In May, registered unemployment in Latvia continued to decline. Over the month, the number of officially registered unemployed decreased by more than one and a half thousand people, and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.5%.
The labor market in Latvia showed further improvement in May. According to the State Employment Agency, the registered unemployment rate at the end of the month was 4.5% of the economically active population. Compared to April, the figure decreased by 0.2 percentage points.
At the same time, the number of registered unemployed also decreased. At the end of May, 39,980 people were registered with the agency, compared to 41,507 a month earlier. Thus, over the month, the number of unemployed decreased by 1,527 people.
The decline in unemployment was observed in all regions of the country.
The most favorable situation remains in the Riga region, where the registered unemployment rate was 3.5%. Over the month, the figure decreased by 0.1 percentage points.
The highest unemployment rate remains in Latgale. Despite the improvement in the situation, at the end of May it reached 9.5%, which is more than twice the national average.
In Vidzeme, the unemployment rate decreased to 4%, while in Zemgale and Kurzeme it dropped to 4.3% and 4.4%, respectively.
It is important to understand that in spring and early summer, the labor market traditionally becomes more active due to seasonal work, construction, tourism, and agriculture. Therefore, the decline in unemployment during this period is usually an expected trend.
Nevertheless, the current data shows that the unemployment rate continues to decrease not only compared to the previous month but also compared to the end of last year. For comparison, in December 2025, the registered unemployment in Latvia was 5% of the economically active population.
The reduction of the figure to 4.5% indicates a sustained demand for workers despite ongoing economic uncertainty and cautious forecasts for economic development.
If the current trend continues, the labor market may continue to strengthen in the coming months, especially in sectors where there is traditionally a shortage of labor.
