Unemployment level in February grew at slower pace

In February, the number of unemployed persons in the country increased by 5,737, whilst in January, the number of unemployed persons in the country increased by 7,060. Furthermore, last month, 16,823 new persons were registered as unemployed, which is 834 persons or 4.7 percent less than in January.

With this, the unemployment level in Latvia in February reached 17.1 percent, with a total of 192,032 persons registered as unemployed in the country. In January, the unemployment level in Latvia was 16.6 percent.

The lowest unemployment rate is in Riga Region (14.1 percent), with the highest rate in Latgale Province (eastern Latvia) -22.6 percent. The unemployment rate in Kurzeme Province (western Latvia) reached 18.9 percent at the end of last month, Vidzeme Province (northeastern Latvia) - 19.2 percent and Zemgale Province (southern Latvia) - 19.5 percent.

The unemployment level in Latvia's largest cities at the end of February is as follows: Riga - 12.8 percent, Daugavpils (southeastern Latvia) - 14.2 percent, Jelgava (central Latvia) - 14 percent, Ventspils (northwestern Latvia) - 14.6 percent, Jurmala (central Latvia) - 15.2 percent, Liepaja (southwestern Latvia) - 19.7 percent and Rezekne (eastern Latvia) - 24.6 percent.

Ilze Mežniece LETA