In the first quarter of this year, there were an average of 19,800 vacancies in Latvia, which is 1,800, or 8.3%, fewer than in the corresponding period of 2025, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau.
In the private sector, there were 10,800 vacancies, which is approximately 1,100, or 9.1%, fewer than in the first quarter of 2025, while in the public sector, there were 8,900 vacancies, which is about 700, or 7.3%, fewer.
Of all available jobs in Latvia (occupied and vacant), 2.2% were vacant, with 3% in the public sector and 1.8% in the private sector.
In the first quarter of 2026, there were 889,100 occupied jobs in Latvia, which is an increase of 17,900, or 2.1%, compared to the first quarter of 2025. In the private sector, the number of occupied jobs increased by 20,400, or 3.5%, while in the public sector, it decreased by 2,500, or 0.8%.
The highest share of vacancies was in the main group of specialist professions at 3.7%, in the main group of simple professions at 3%, and in the main group of skilled workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing at 3%.
Among industries, the highest share of vacancies was in public administration at 6%, in mining and quarrying at 5.7%, in administrative and support services at 3.6%, and in health and social care at 2.6%.
In the regions, in the first quarter of 2026, the highest share of vacancies was in Riga at 2.8%, or 13,900, while the lowest was in Latgale at 1.1%, or 700. In Zemgale, it was 1.3% (900 vacancies), while in Kurzeme and Vidzeme, the share of vacancies was the same at 1.2%, or 1,100 and 900 vacancies, respectively.
