Unemployment rate in Latvia starts to grow

RIGA - The registered unemployment rate in Latvia has started to grow, reaching 11.7 percent at the end of January.

Compared to the end of December 2011, the unemployment level has increased by 0.2 percent, LETA was informed by the State Employment Agency.

At the moment, 132,214 people are registered as unemployed at the Employment Agency's branches, which is 1,918 persons more than at the end of December 2011.

The highest unemployment rate still remains in Latgale - 20.2 percent, whilst the lowest in Riga Region - 8.4 percent. The unemployment level in Vidzeme is 13.3 percent, in Zemgale - 13 percent and in Kurzeme - 12.4 percent.

Among the cities, Riga still has the lowest unemployment level of 7.8 percent, followed by Jelgava - 9 percent, Ventspils - 9.8 percent, Valmiera - 10 percent, Daugavpils - 10.4 percent, Jurmala - 10.4 percent, Liepaja - 12.7 percent, Jekabpils - 14.7 percent, and Rezekne - 18.2 percent.

As reported, last year, the unemployment rate in Latvia fell from 14.5 percent at the beginning of 2011 to 11.5 percent in October, remaining unchanged for the past several months.