Riga: In Latvia, a peculiar trend is reshaping domestic life as women, grappling with a stark shortage of men, are hiring “husbands for an hour” to tackle household chores.
With 15.5% more women than men —three times the EU average — this Baltic nation faces a gender imbalance that has spurred innovative solutions. Platforms like Komanda24 and Remontdarbi.lv offer “Men With Golden Hands”, who arrive within an hour to fix plumbing, paint walls, or assemble furniture, no romance required.
The crisis stems from higher male mortality, with men living 11 years less on average due to smoking (31% of men vs. 10% of women), obesity, and risky behaviours like alcoholism, according to World Atlas.
Among those over 65, women outnumber men two to one. Dania, a 29-year-old festival worker, told The Sun, “Almost all my colleagues are women. A better balance would make life more interesting.” Her friend Zane noted many women seek partners abroad due to the scarcity.
Services like Remontdarbi.lv allow bookings via phone or online, transforming chores into a gig economy staple.
This isn’t unique to Latvia; in 2022, the UK’s Laura Young went viral for renting out her husband, James, for DIY tasks, charging $44 hourly. In Latvia, the trend reflects practical adaptation to a demographic void, with women embracing independence while outsourcing traditional “husband” roles.
As Latvia’s male population is projected to shrink further by 3% by 2030, these services are a lifeline, blending necessity with modern convenience in a country where fixing a sink has become a hired task.