Employment (information according to the Labour Force Survey carried out by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia in accordance with the International Labour Organisation’s methodology). In the third quarter of 2003, the employment rate in Latvia for those aged between 15 and 64 was 56.5%. The employment rate for men was 61.5%, while for women it was 52.2%. In the third quarter of 2003, 19.3% of the total number of people employed was employed in industry and the energy industry, 17.8% in business or hotels and restaurants, and 13.8% of employees in Latvia worked in agriculture or fishing. When broken down into basic occupational groups, 15.3% of those employed between the ages of 15 and 64 were qualified labourers and tradesmen, 14.2% were service and trade employees, 13.8% represented general unskilled occupations, 12.4% were professionals, 11.4% were plant and machine operators and assemblers, 10.7% were senior professionals, 9% were legislators, managers and senior State Officials, 8% were qualified agricultural and fishery specialists and 5.2% white-collar workers. In the third quarter of 2003, of those employed between the ages of 15 and 64, 87.2% were employees, 5.6% were self-employed persons and 3.5% were unpaid persons helping other family members. 9.2% of those employed between the ages of 15 and 74 worked part time.
In the Riga, Vidzeme and Zemgale regions, approximately 61%-64% of those employed were aged between 15 and 64. The employment rate was lower in the Kurzeme and Latgale regions (57.7% and 52% respectively).

Labour Force In the third quarter of 2003, 1 027 000 persons between the ages of 15 and 74 were employed in Latvia. 20% of the labour force had tertiary education, 67% had secondary education, secondary professional education or vocational training, and 13% had primary school or lower level education.

Unemployment
In the third quarter of 2003, the unemployment rate, according to the Labour Force Survey data (proportion of job-seekers compared with the total number in the economically active population) for those aged between 15 and 64 was 11%, and the unemployment rate for men was 11.9%, while for women the figure stood at 10%. Based on the State Employment Agency’s information, the average registered unemployment rate (proportion of unemployed persons registered with the State Employment Agency compared with the total number in the economically active population) in the third quarter of 2003 was 8.5%. The unemployment rate differs significantly from region to region. According to the Labour Force Survey data, the unemployment rate in the Riga, Vidzeme and Zemgale regions fluctuated between 10.4%-11.3% in 2002. Kurzeme registered a higher rate of unemployment (12.7%), while the rate was particularly high in Latgale (17.1%). The Labour Force Survey data indicates that in the third quarter of 2003, the proportion of job-seekers compared with the total number in the economically active population between the ages of 15 and 24 was 19.6%, but for the older population (55-64) it stood at 6.5%. According to the Labour Force Survey data, in the third quarter of 2003, 65.9% of job seekers aged between 15 and 74 had been unemployed for more than a year.