Latvia’s unemployment rate rose to 7.1% in the first quarter of 2026 from 6.7% in the previous quarter, but was down from 7.4% in the same period last year. This marked the highest reading since the first quarter of 2025, as the number of unemployed persons increased by 2.6 thousand quarter-on-quarter to 66.4 thousand. The jobless rate for men fell to 7.2% from 7.6%, with the number of unemployed men at 32.9 thousand, while the rate for women rose to 7% from 5.9%, with unemployed women totaling 33.4 thousand. Meanwhile, total employment dropped by 11.6 thousand to 871.2 thousand, bringing the employment rate to 63.8%, down 1 percentage point from the fourth quarter. The youth unemployment rate (ages 15–24) fell to 9.4%, equivalent to 6.2 thousand people, decreasing by 4.1 percentage points from Q4. At the same time, 16.6% of the population aged 20–64, or 173.6 thousand people, remained economically inactive, down by 5.6 thousand from the corresponding period a year earlier. source: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia

Unemployment Rate in Latvia increased to 7.10 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from 6.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Latvia averaged 10.07 percent from 2002 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 21.30 percent in the first quarter of 2010 and a record low of 5.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007. This page provides the latest reported value for - Latvia Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Latvia Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Latvia increased to 7.10 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from 6.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Latvia is expected to be 6.60 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Latvia Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 6.20 percent in 2027 and 6.10 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-23 11:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q4 6.7% 6.9% 6.7%
2026-05-22 10:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q1 7.1% 6.7% 7.2%
2026-08-14 10:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Q2 7.1% 6.60%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 871.00 883.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Rate 63.80 64.80 percent Mar 2026
Job Vacancies 18592.00 18923.00 Dec 2025
Job Vacancy Rate 2.10 2.10 percent Dec 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 68.70 69.40 percent Mar 2026
Population 1.86 1.88 Million Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 7.10 6.70 percent Mar 2026
Wages 1419.00 1330.00 EUR/Month Mar 2026


Latvia Unemployment Rate
In Latvia, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
7.10 6.70 21.30 5.30 2002 - 2026 percent Quarterly

News Stream
Latvia Unemployment Rate at 1-Year High
Latvia’s unemployment rate rose to 7.1% in the first quarter of 2026 from 6.7% in the previous quarter, but was down from 7.4% in the same period last year. This marked the highest reading since the first quarter of 2025, as the number of unemployed persons increased by 2.6 thousand quarter-on-quarter to 66.4 thousand. The jobless rate for men fell to 7.2% from 7.6%, with the number of unemployed men at 32.9 thousand, while the rate for women rose to 7% from 5.9%, with unemployed women totaling 33.4 thousand. Meanwhile, total employment dropped by 11.6 thousand to 871.2 thousand, bringing the employment rate to 63.8%, down 1 percentage point from the fourth quarter. The youth unemployment rate (ages 15–24) fell to 9.4%, equivalent to 6.2 thousand people, decreasing by 4.1 percentage points from Q4. At the same time, 16.6% of the population aged 20–64, or 173.6 thousand people, remained economically inactive, down by 5.6 thousand from the corresponding period a year earlier.
2026-05-22
Latvia’s Unemployment Falls to 6.7% in Q4 2025
Latvia’s unemployment rate declined to 6.7% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 6.9% in the previous quarter and the same period last year. The number of unemployed fell to 63.8 thousand from 66.2 thousand in Q3, while total employment dropped to 882.8 thousand from 892.1 thousand, bringing the employment rate to 64.8%, down 0.4 percentage points quarter on quarter. Youth unemployment rose to 13.5%, up 1.4 percentage points from Q3, even as the number of unemployed young people slightly fell by 0.3 thousand to 8.5 thousand, accounting for 13.3% of all unemployed. Meanwhile, 30.6% of the population aged 15–74, or 416.8 thousand people, remained economically inactive, an increase of 6.2 thousand from the previous quarter.
2026-02-23
Latvia Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.9% in Q3
The unemployment rate in Latvia rose to 6.9% in the third quarter of 2025 from 6.7% in the previous quarter. The number of unemployed persons rose by 2.5 thousand quarter-on-quarter to 66.2 thousand, with male unemployment increasing by 3.7 thousand while female unemployment fell by 1.2 thousand. The share of long-term unemployed, those out of work for 12 months or more, climbed to 39.9% from 33.3% in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the employment rate went up to 65.2% from 64.9%, with the number of employed individuals rising by 2.7 thousand to 892.1 thousand. During this period, 30.0% of the population aged 15–74 was economically inactive, slightly lower than 30.4% in the prior quarter.
2025-11-14