The decline in the male population in Latvia has further deepened the problem of finding partners for single and young women. This gender imbalance among the population has led to the emergence of a new and noteworthy service sector in the country—the service called "hourly husband." This service allows women to call a handyman for minor repairs and household tasks at home.
Milli.Az reports that in recent years the number of deaths among men in Latvia has increased significantly. According to experts, the main reasons are:
- high alcohol consumption,
- work and road accidents,
- the high incidence of assaults.
These factors lead to men losing their lives at younger ages. As a result, the number of women is significantly higher than men, which seriously increases the problem of "finding a life partner or partner."
29-year-old Dania says she works at festivals and most of her coworkers are women: "It’s not a problem, but if there were a few more men in the environment, it would be more balanced. At least, there would be someone to talk to or flirt with."
Her friend Zane states that many women establish relationships abroad for this reason: "Many of the women around me build relationships in other countries. It is really hard to find men here."
The lack of men has led to the formation of an unusual sector in Latvia. Within the framework of the "one-hour husband" service, women can call a handyman to their homes for a small fee. These handymen:
- fix faucet and water supply malfunctions,
- install televisions,
- assemble furniture,
- do electrical work,
- help move heavy items.
Some companies send "golden-handed" handymen to women's homes every day of the week. Others direct the handyman to the address within no more than 1 hour after the order is placed.
Sociologist Baiba Bela explains the situation as follows: "The mortality rate among men aged 30-40 is three times higher than that of women. The main reasons are alcohol, road accidents, and work accidents."
This new service sector, arising as a result of the social imbalance in Latvia, attracts attention both as an indicator of social problems and as a practical alternative that meets people's daily life needs.
