ECONOMIC ACTIVITY CHANGES DUE TO SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

Background: Due to the preparation for the Population Census of 2021, the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia is publishing economic activity status statistics annually, dividing the population into two categories economically active or inactive individuals. When comparing the economic activity status on the individual level from the Population Census in 2011 and the beginning of 2017, it was observed that economic activity status changes are not distributed evenly within the population. Due to socio-demographic factors, some groups of the population are more vulnerable to economic inactivity. The aim of the study was to determine the relevance of socio-demographic factors for economic activity on the individual level and identify the groups that are more vulnerable to economic inactivity. The following socio-demographic factors are analysed in the study: age, education level, profession, marital status, birth of children and place of residence. Data and methodology: The study uses data from the Population Register of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Population Census 2011, Ministry of Education and Science, and others on the individual level. The study analyses economic activity changes between the Population Census 2011 and January 1st, 2017, of individuals who were 15 to 59 years old at the time of the Population Census 2011 reference date. Results: It is concluded that economic activity status changes vary among different age groups. Individuals who were 15 to 24 years old at the Census 2011 are completing their studies and some of them are beginning to work, while part of people who were 55-59 years old at the Population Census are retired. Therefore, the age group 25 - 54 years old, as a group less affected by age, has been studied in more detail. The study shows that most vulnerable to economic inactivity are people with a primary education and individuals who lived in rural areas during the census. Regarding the profession during the census, more vulnerable groups are agricultural, forestry, fishery workers, craftsmen as well as simple labourers. Regarding the marital status, the most vulnerable group is single men. However, a birth of a child during the period of observation (2011-2017) is related to an active status of economic activity at the beginning and end of the reference period.