Latvia is experiencing labor shortages in 37 occupations, according to the 2023 EURES report on shortages and surpluses. Key sectors affected include construction, engineering, repair and maintenance services, transportation, and healthcare.

Additionally, the UN Economic Commission for Europe's report on the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and its Regional Implementation Strategy (MIPAA/RIS) in Latvia revealed that the country is facing a declining overall population while the number of elderly residents is rising. This suggests that Latvia may need foreign workers to alleviate labor shortages.

According to the latest EURES report, some of the roles struggling with a shortage of workers in Latvia include:

1. Building construction labourers
2. Civil engineering labourers
3. Mining and quarrying labourers
4. Fishery and aquaculture labourers
5. Crop farm labourers
6. Heavy truck and lorry drivers
7. Electrical line installers and repairers
8. Building and related electricians
9. Aircraft engine mechanics and repairers
10. Structural metal preparers and erectors
11. Welders and flame cutters
12. Painters and related workers
13. Air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics
14. Plumbers and pipe fitters
15. Insulation workers
16. Plasterers
17. Floor layers and tile setters
18. Concrete placers, concrete finishers and related workers
19. Stonemasons, stone cutters, splitters and carvers
20. Bricklayers and related workers

On the other hand, Latvia reported 45 surplus occupations, emerging as one of the three EURES countries that submitted more surplus than shortage occupations.

Most of Job Vacancies in 2023 Related to Public Administration

In 2023, Latvia registered 24,300 job vacancies, according to the country’s Central Statistical Bureau. Despite a 6.1 percent decrease compared to the previous year, Latvia still faces labor shortages in specific sectors, as noted in the earlier report.

The majority of job vacancies in 2023 were in public administration (8.4 percent), administrative and support service activities (4 percent), mining and quarrying (3.3 percent), construction (2.9 percent), transportation and storage (2.9 percent), and health and social care (2.6 percent).