RIGA, Jun 8 (LETA) - Central Statistical Bureau data show that in the first quarter of 2026 Latvian labor market had 19,800 job vacancies, of which,10,800 jobs were vacant in private sector and 8,900 in public sector.

Out of all jobs available in the country, both occupied and vacant, 2.2 percent positions were vacant, of which 3 percent in public sector and 1.8 percent in private.

Year-on-year, the number of vacant jobs reduced by 1,800 or 8.3 percent. In private sector it dropped by 1,100 (9.1 percent) and in public by 700 (7.3 percent).

The number of occupied posts totaled 889,100 in the first quarter of 2026. Year-on-year, the average number of occupied jobs increased by 17,900 or 2.1 percent. In private sector it rose by 20,400 (3.5 percent), and in public it fell by 2,500 (0.8 percent).

In terms of major occupational groups, the largest share of job vacancies was recorded for technicians and associate professionals (3.7 percent), elementary occupations (3 percent), as well as skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (3 percent).

When broken down by economic activity, the greatest proportion of job vacancies was recorded in public administration (6 percent), followed by mining and quarrying (5.7 percent), administrative and support service activities (3.6 percent), as well as human health and social work activities (2.6 percent).

Regional breakdown of the data shows the largest share of vacant jobs in Riga (2.8 percent or 13,900) and the smallest in Latgale (1.1 percent or 700). In Zemgale region, 1.3 percent of jobs were vacant (900 positions), while in Vidzeme and Kurzeme those were 1.2 percent in each (1,100 and 900 positions respectively).