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In 2000, 24.6% of workers were employed in industry: mining and
manufacturing industry - 16.8%, energy 1.7% and construction 6.1%.
During the period since 1990, employment in the mining,
manufacturing and building sectors has decreased by half. Between
1995 and 2000, the total volume of labour force employed in the
mining and manufacturing sector has continued to fall, by 11.4%
compared to a decrease of 0.7% in the whole economy), but
employment in the energy sector has increased 1.7% and in
construction by 12.3%.
Figure shows the industrial eco-efficiency of the
combined mining and manufacturing sector. This figure shows a
positive trend from the view-point of sustainable development,
since amounts of pollution have decreased more than of industrial
output (6.6%). For example, between 1997 and 1999, nitrogen oxide
emissions decreased by 19.4%, sulphur dioxide by 57.7%, and carbon
oxides by 1.1%. The energy consumption also decreased: by 26.3%.
These decreases show that the industrial technologies have been
gradually improving.
Besides the use of eco-efficiency to assess sustainability in
the industrial sectors, comparison can be made between importance
of the sector in the economy (proportion of the added value from
the total GDP) and relative impact on the environment (relative
contribution to the total pollution). Such a comparison can be
used to generate environmental profiles for industries. If an
excessive amount of energy is consumed or if excessive amount of
pollution are emitted to produce certain share of GDP then
attention should be paid to energy efficiency and introduction of
cleaner technologies in this field. Lack of improvement of
technologies in inefficient sectors will hinder national
sustainable development.
Figure shows the environmental profiles (relative per GDP
energy consumption and pollution emission) for industry including
the energy and construction sectors. In 1999, the energy and
construction sectors contributed that largest amounts of SO2 and
NOx (60.6% and 55.5%, respectively). These sectors together
contribute more than 80% of the emitted CO, SO2 and NOx.
The wood manufacturing subsector shows the most stable
trends in growth. Although this sector is associated with
intensive use of natural resources, the level of processing of
wood materials has been increasing. Technologies are being
upgraded in sawing and drying processes. Export of wood that has
been minimally processed is to a greater and greater extent being
replaced by export of plywood (especially large sheets and
laminated), wood panels and furniture.
To a great extent, the economy of Latvia is largely dependent
on wood export. Since 1990, the added value of the forestry
subsector has grown by 272%, while the added value of the
whole manufacturing sector has decreased by 54%.
The growth in the forest industry is largely due to an increase
of wood harvest during this period by 263.9%. Among the entire
manufacturing industry sector, unemployment has only increased in
the forestry subsector, by 73.1%.
Fishing is also an important sector utilizing natural
resources. The proportion of the number employed in fishing is
0.6%, and in 2000 the sector contributed 0.3% of the GDP. The
total fishing catch has decreased by 21.4% since 1990, but the
catch in the Baltic Sea has increased by 34.7%.
Construction is one of the successful industrial sectors,
showing growth since 1995 (yearly average of 9.3% between 1995 and
2000), the growth has been much more rapid than the rate of
increase of the GDP. Construction has become an important sector
that has helped to maintain the GDP. This sector is considered as
one of the economic indicators to assess the general business
climate in the country.
In 2000, the greatest growth was observed in construction of
administrative buildings (87%), followed by buildings for trade
(63%), education (60%), and industry (54%). Construction in
infrastructure declined. These changes were associated with a need
for new industrial and trade buildings, as well as State budget
financing for a national investment policy and sector development
programme. In 2000, the construction of dwelling buildings
decreased in comparison to that in 1999.
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