According to the established stereotype, wage workers used to be located on the outskirts, in industrial zones. Now everything has changed.
Against the backdrop of the deindustrialization of our economy, it is the Center of Riga, with a predominance of budgetary institutions – state and municipal administration and education – that has taken a significant lead in the number of employed in the capital. This is stated in the updated Long-Term Development Program of Riga until 2030.
Money goes to money, and, of course, despite the problems of trade and catering in the historical quarters, there are still significantly more of them there than in the 'neighborhoods' – all due to the same purchasing demand in the Center.
It should be emphasized that this indicator concerns not the number of workers living in specific areas, but rather the number of jobs. This leads to another phenomenon of Riga – the daily movement of significant masses of people from the 'sleeping areas' to those places where they can work. This does not change the fact that the highest-paid districts of the capital also concentrated the most dilapidated buildings.
In total, 415,077 residents were employed in Riga in 2023, with 67,169 in the Center. Surprisingly, Teika takes second place with 26,013, while the old Latgale suburb closes the top three with 21,400.
These figures can be compared with data from the largest residential areas, where managers typically do not work – but there are subordinate municipal institutions of education, healthcare, and social welfare; as well as a relatively developed trade and service sector.
Imanta employed 12,916 people; Kengarags – 12,305; Purvciems – 11,579.
The absolute outsiders are the most remote outskirts of Riga: Bullu in the Northwest and Suži in the Northeast – each had 9 employed individuals...
