At the end of June, there were a total of 66,200 unemployed people in Latvia. Most of them, or 21,200 individuals, were looking for work for three to five months, while another 18,100 were searching for one to two years. The status of unemployed means that a person is officially recognized as not having a job and is seeking employment. While in this status, the unemployed must fulfill a number of measures established by the State Employment Agency to search for work. The unemployed have the opportunity to receive a scholarship during vocational training, retraining, and upgrading qualifications, as well as during informal education. Career counseling is also available. Unemployment benefits are paid for no longer than eight months. The amount of the benefit depends on the person's insurance record and the salary from which contributions were made.
