Based on the data of the 2021 Population and Housing Census (hereinafter referred to as the “Census”), the number of persons classified under the labour force totalled 1 million 477 thousand, of them employed population amounted to 1 million 266 thousand, the unemployed – 211.3 thousand. Over the decade, the labour force participation rate grew from 56.6 to 61.7 per cent.

Differences in labour force participation rates between urban and rural population and between men and women have persisted. The participation rate is higher among urban than among rural population. However, over the last decade, rural population has been rapidly catching up with urban population in terms of participation rates. Among urban residents, labour force participation rate increased by 2.6 percentage points (59.6 per cent in 2011, 62.2 per cent in 2021), among rural residents – by 10.2 percentage points (50.5 per cent in 2011, 60.7 per cent in 2021).

Over the decade, women’s labour force participation rate grew faster than men’s, but the difference has remained. Women’s labour force participation rate increased by 6.8 percentage points (51.7 per cent in 2011, 58.5 per cent in 2021), men’s – by 2.8 percentage points (62.7 per cent in 2011, 65.5 per cent in 2021).

Compared to the 2011 Census data, in 2021, labour force participation rate recorded for the population under 54 remained similar as a decade ago (Fig. 1). In 2021, the labour force participation rate increased in the pre-retirement and retirement age groups: among persons aged 55–64 (from 55 to 75.7 per cent) and among persons aged 65 and older (from 4.5 to 12.6 per cent).

Fig. 1. Labour force participation rate by age group, per cent
(Population aged 15 and older)

Based on the 2021 Census data, the labour force participation rate exceeded the national average in Neringa (70.4 per cent), Vilnius district (67.8 per cent), Vilnius city (67.5 per cent), Kaunas district (66.3 per cent), Trakai district (65.3 per cent), Klaipėda district (64.5 per cent) and other municipalities. The lowest labour force participation rate was recorded in the municipalities of Akmenė district (54.3 per cent), Pakruojis district (54.4 per cent), Kupiškis and Kelmė districts (54.8 per cent in each).

Employed population accounted for 52.9 per cent of total population aged 15 and older. Men accounted for 48.2 per cent (47.5 per cent in 2011), women – 51.8 per cent (52.5 per cent in 2011) of total population.

Over a decade between the censuses, employment rate of population aged 15–64 grew from 56.3 to 65.2 per cent, i.e. By 8.9 percentage points. The same increase in employment rate is observed among men and among women. In 2021, the employment rate of men aged 15–64 stood at 64.3 per cent (55.5 per cent in 2011), women – 65.9 per cent (57.1 per cent in 2011). Thus, in this age group, the proportion of women exceeds that of men by 1.6 percentage points in terms of employment rate.

The employment rates of men and women varied between age groups (Fig. 2). The highest employment rate for men was recorded in the 30–34 age group (77.1 per cent), for women – in the 45–49 age group (77.6 per cent). Over the decade, differences in employment rates between different age groups of men and women have not changed substantially. In 2021, as in 2011, employment rate of men aged 15–34 and 60–64 was higher than that of women of the same age, while employment rate of women aged 35–59 was higher than that of men of the same age.

Fig. 2. Employment rate by age group, per cent
(Population aged 15 and older)

The majority (90.6 per cent) of the employed population were employees. The proportion of female employees (92.3 per cent of all employed women) exceeded that of male employees (88.7 per cent of all employed men). The proportion of men with an employment status of employer (4.3 per cent) or self-employed (6.7 per cent) was higher than that of women (2 and 5.6 per cent respectively). In rural areas, compared to urban areas, there were more employers (5.3 and 2.1 per cent) and self-employed persons (9 and 2.1 per cent respectively).

Educational attainment level of employed population was high (Fig. 3): 40.3 per cent of the population had higher education (in 2011, 36.7 per cent), one in six persons – post-secondary tertiary and special secondary (in 2011, one in five), one in three persons (as in 2011) – upper secondary education.

Fig. 3. Employed population by educational attainment level, per cent
(Population aged 15 and older)

As regards employment by main economic activity, the largest proportion of the population was employed in industrial enterprises – 228.5 thousand or 18.1 per cent of the total number of the employed (in 2011, 209.1 thousand or 17.8 per cent), wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycle – 226.6 thousand or 17.9 per cent (in 2011, 205.6 thousand or 17.4 per cent), education sector – 118.4 thousand or 9.4 per cent (in 2011, 130.6 thousand or 11.1 per cent). (Fig. 4).

Based on the 2021 Census data, the majority of men (89.1 per cent of the total number of the employed) worked in construction as well as in transportation and storage sectors (73.9 per cent) (in 2011, 87.4 and 73.3 per cent respectively), while women – human health care and social work activities (86.2 per cent) and education (80.6 per cent) sectors (in 2011, 85.3 and 78.3 per cent respectively).

Fig. 4. Employed population by economic activity in 2021, per cent
(Population aged 15 and older)

The largest share of the population was employed as professionals in various economic activities – 329.3 thousand or 26 per cent of the total number of the employed (in 2011, 268.6 thousand or 22.8 per cent), as service and sales workers – 170.8 thousand or 13.5 per cent (in 2011, 146.7 thousand or 12.5 per cent), as craft and related trades workers – 170.1 thousand or 13.5 per (in 2011, 158.9 thousand or 13.5 per cent).

One in three employed women was a professional, one in five – service worker or salesperson. One in five employed men was craft and related trades worker, one in six – professional, plant and machine operators or assembler (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5. Employed men and women by occupational group, per cent
(Population aged 15 and older)

Inactive population accounted for 38.3 per cent (916.9 thousand) of total population aged 15 and older, the majority of them – two thirds – were non-working pensioners or recipients of capital income (590.5 thousand or 64.4 per cent), and the fifth – non-working pupils and students (171.6 thousand or 18.7 per cent).

More information on the issue is available in the Database of Indicators.