892.8 thousand people or 64.3 % of the population of Latvia aged 15–74 were employed in Q3 2020. Over a year, employment rate has dropped by 1.3 percentage points, but the number of employed – by 25.0 thousand.
Compared to the previous quarter, employment rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points, but the number of employed – by 0.7 thousand, according to the data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
Since the 2nd half of 2012 employment rate in Latvia has exceeded the European Union (EU) average. In Q3 it was higher than in Lithuania (63.7 %), but lower than in Estonia (66.3 %).
In Q3 2020, employment rate among young people (aged 15–24) constituted 29.7 %, which is 3.3 percentage points lower indicator than that recorded in the previous period. The number of employed young people accounted for 50.7 thousand.
In Q3, persons in main job worked on average 38.6 hours per week, which is the same as in the corresponding period of the previous year, but 1.5 hours more than in Q2 2020.
In Q3, 8.9 % (70.5 thousand) of employees worked remotely.
That is less than half compared to the 2nd quarter (140.6 thousand or 18.3 %). 55.7 % of persons working remotely were females and 44.3 % – males.
The largest share of employees working remotely (33.2 %) were in age group 35–44 years, 26.8 % – in age group 15-34 years. The largest share of males working remotely (38.1 %) were aged 15–34 years, but females (31.4 %) – in age group 35–44 years. The largest share of employees working remotely (12.6 %) in the total number of employees of the respective age group was observed in age group 35–44 years, but the smallest (6.3 %) in age group 55–74 years.
Almost a half (49.2 %) of all employees working remotely were employed in financial and insurance activities, 31.2 % – in information and communication services and 15.0 % – in public administration and defence; compulsory social security activities. The smallest (3.4 %) share of employees working remotely was observed in manufacturing sector (B–F).
Slightly more than one fifth (21.4 %) of professionals, slightly less (20.7 %) of technicians and associate professionals and 12.9 % of managers worked remotely.
During a year share of employees receiving up to EUR 450 monthly (after taxes) reduced by 2.3 percentage points. The proportion of employees receiving minimum monthly wage or less accounted for 10.8 % or 85.5 thousand people (a reduction of 1.6 percentage points over Q3 2019). During a year share of employees receiving net wage from EUR 450 to 700 (in the 3rd quarter – 34.6 %) rose by 0.3 percentage points, of those receiving from EUR 700 to 1400 – by 0.6 percentage points (in the 3rd quarter – 32.4 %). Share of employees receiving monthly EUR 1400 and more after taxes increased by 1.1 percentage point (7.0 % in the 3rd quarter). The highest share of small wages in regions was observed in Latgale, where each fifth (20.5 %) employee received minimum monthly wage or less.
In Q3 wage or salary of 2.8 % of employees was not calculated or paid, while 2.5 % did not indicate the size of earnings thereof.
In Q3 2020, Labour Force Survey questions about economic activity were asked to 7.2 thousand people aged 15–74 living in 4.1 thousand household.
