Skilled and motivated talent pool

The Latvian labor force is multi-lingual, well educated, ready to take on new challenges, and highly motivated. Countries with better-trained or better-motivated workforces than Latvia are few and far between. Latvians take pride in having strong work ethics that are integral to Northern European culture.

Higher education

The Latvian labour force has one of the highest rates of university attendance in the world. In 2021/2022, 77.4 thousand students were attending 54 higher education institutions, 2 of which are branches of foreign universities. Female students were 57.8% of the total amount of students admitted.

The four largest universities – Riga Technical University, University of Latvia, Riga Stradins University and the Latvia University of Agriculture – enrol more than half of the students of Latvia. Latvia is 2nd in the world according to the number of females obtaining master's degree (Education at a Glance, 2021). Latvia’s research institutes specialize in fields as diverse as radio astronomy, life sciences, physics, logistics and telecommunications. 

Technical and vocational skills

The main university for technical sciences is Riga Technical University. In Latvia, more than 12 626 students are studying in higher education programs of engineering, electronics, metalworking, etc. and also in vocational education programs.

Cultural and language skills

Latvia’s history is the key to why our workforce knows the business and cultural norms that enable partnerships with CIS partners, as well as western European countries. According to the results of Eurobarometer research, Latvia ranks 2nd among European states for the percentage of residents, who, in addition to their mother tongue, can speak at least one foreign language. The data shows that 95% of Latvia’s residents are fluent in some foreign language, and 54% can speak at least two foreign languages (1st highest score). 13% can speak at least three foreign languages. Moreover, 44% of respondents acknowledge that they speak a foreign language daily – at work or in their private lives. 

The majority of adults (59%) know Russian, 60% have a good command of English, but 18% speak German. Scandinavian languages are also widely spoken.

Training incentives

Latvia’s government recognizes the importance of training programs for improving the skills of the workforce, and thus offers various incentives for employers to provide training to potential hires and current employees.
 

Contacts

Riga office

Address: 2 Perses Street, Riga, Latvia, LV-1442
Phone: 67039499
E-mail: invest@liaa.gov.lv; jautajumi@liaa.gov.lv