RIGA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The unemployment rate in Latvia dropped to 7.1 percent in July, hitting the lowest point in eight years, the Latvian State Employment Agency informed Tuesday.
The lowest jobless rate -- 4.6 percent -- was recorded in the Latvian capital city.
The least developed region economically in eastern Latvia, Latgale, continued to show the highest unemployment rate, with 16.4 percent of the population out of work this summer.
After hitting 8.5 percent in January, unemployment in Latvia has dropped each month this year, and the trend has been steadier than in previous years, the government agency's head Evija Simsone said.
In comparison with the same period a year ago, in July 2017, joblessness decreased across all social and age groups. Youth unemployment, for example, fell by roughly 20 percent year-on-year.
The State Employment Agency also noted a significant increase in job vacancies this summer in sectors like construction, administrative and services sectors, as well as the financial and insurance industry. The overall number of vacancies registered with the State Employment Agency grew 17 percent year-on-year.
In July 2016, Latvia reported an 8.3 percent unemployment rate. Enditem
