Latvian unemployment down to 7.2% in June

RIGA - In June 2017, unemployment in Latvia decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 7.2 percent, according to information released by the State Employment Agency.

The number of people registered with the State Employment Agency as jobless decreased by 1,731 over the month, from 68,439 people at the beginning of June to 66,708 at the end of the month.

The lowest unemployment rate, 4.6 percent, was recorded in Riga Region, while the highest jobless rate, 16.6 percent, was recorded in the eastern Latvian province of Latgale. Also, joblessness was at 8 percent in Kurzeme, 7.8 percent in Vidzeme and 6.7 percent in Zemgale.

Riga reported the lowest unemployment rate among Latvia’s cities, with 4.4 percent of its population out of work in June. The highest unemployment rate, 13.3 percent, was recorded in Rezekne.

At the end of June 2016, the unemployment rate in Latvia stood at 8.3 percent.