A comprehensive labor force survey conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia has provided a detailed breakdown of the country’s economic activity, revealing significant trends in employment distribution and workforce demographics.
Sectoral Employment Trends
The service sector remains a primary employer, with trade accounting for 57.9% of all workers within this category. The remaining 42.1% are distributed across public administration—including the fire service, police and the mandatory social insurance system—as well as healthcare, education, social services, culture, and the entertainment and recreation industry.
Beyond services, manufacturing employs 21.6% of the country’s working residents. Agriculture represents a smaller portion of the workforce, with an employment figure of 6.8%.
Professional Roles and Qualifications
Data from 2025 indicates that managers and specialists make up the largest professional group, accounting for 44.9% of all employed individuals. Skilled workers follow at 21.6%.
Employees in the office, trade, and service sectors represent 20.4% of the workforce, while 11.8% of workers are employed in professions that do not require high qualifications.
The Age Gap Across Industries
The survey highlights a stark contrast in average worker ages across different fields. The information and communication technology (ICT) sector has the youngest workforce, with an average age of 36.6 years.
Other relatively young sectors include the hotel and restaurant business, with an average age of 38.8 years, and the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector at 40.4 years.
Conversely, the oldest specialists are found in real estate management, where the average age reaches 52.2 years. High average ages were also recorded in education (49.4 years), healthcare and social assistance (48.7 years), and environmental sectors, including water supply and waste management (48.6 years).
Future Outlook
Given the current age distribution, there may be an increasing need for recruitment in education and healthcare to address the aging workforce. The high concentration of managers and specialists could suggest a shift toward a more specialized economy, which may influence future training and qualification requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who conducted the labor force survey?
The data was prepared based on a survey conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
Which industry has the oldest average worker age?
Real estate management has the oldest specialists, with an average age of 52.2 years.
What percentage of the workforce is employed in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employs 21.6% of the working residents of the country.
How do you think the age difference between the tech sector and education will impact the future of the workforce?
