Skilled 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

Latvia offers investors access to a highly educated, multilingual, and increasingly specialised workforce. Education and employment are closely linked, creating a strong foundation for business growth and long-term competitiveness. In early 2025, nearly half of all employed people in Latvia had completed higher levels of education, and almost one-third held tertiary qualifications. This translates into strong labour market outcomes: according to OECD Education at a Glance 2025, 89% of Latvians aged 25-34 with qualifications are employed–above the OECD average of 87%. For employers, this means access to talent that is not only well educated, but also highly employable. 

Latvia continues to expand its higher education base in line with the needs of modern, knowledge-intensive industries. In the 2024/25 academic year, 74,800 students were enrolled in higher education, including 11,000 international students, while 29,200 new students began their studies. This momentum continued in 2025/26, when total enrolment increased to 76,400 and new admissions reached 29,800. Across 45 higher education institutions, students can choose from a broad portfolio of programmes in engineering, ICT, life sciences, business, and the social sciences–fields that are critical to innovation, digital transformation, and industrial development. The structure of enrolment also reflects a well-balanced talent pipeline, with the majority of students pursuing bachelor’s degrees, followed by master’s studies and short-cycle programmes. Latvia is becoming increasingly attractive internationally, the number of international students increased to 11,900 students in 2025/26 academic year, up 7.5% from the previous year. 

This steady growth matters because it demonstrates not only strong domestic demand for higher education, but also the system’s ability to attract global talent and develop future professionals at scale. In 2024/25 alone, 14,700 students graduated or obtained professional qualifications in Latvia, reinforcing the country’s capacity to supply the labour market with skilled and job-ready specialists.

Technical and vocational skills

Alongside its universities, Latvia’s vocational education system provides a powerful source of practical, industry-relevant skills. It plays a particularly important role in supporting sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, construction, logistics, and services – areas where technical competence and work based expertise are essential. In 2025/26, vocational institutions admitted 10,300 new learners, with engineering, manufacturing, and construction accounting for the largest share of admissions. This concentration highlights a clear and growing interest in technical fields that are directly aligned with investor demand. 

The strength of vocational education is also visible in the scale and consistency of the system. Secondary-level vocational programmes account for increase of enrolment, with 26,500 students – 92% of all vocational learners – preparing for careers in skilled trades and applied professions. Latvia’s network of 53 vocational schools ensures broad nationwide access to this training, from basic to secondary level. Graduation outcomes are equally encouraging: 5,600 students completed vocational studies in 2024, rising to 6,200 in 2025, an increase of nearly 10%. About one-third of graduates came from engineering, manufacturing, or construction programmes, underscoring the system’s relevance for sectors that depend on technically capable talent. 

Taken together, Latvia’s higher education and vocational systems create a robust and reliable talent pipeline. The country produces both university-trained professionals and highly skilled technical specialists, offering employers the depth and flexibility needed across a wide range of industries. Rising enrolment, growing internationalisation, and strong participation in technical disciplines all point to a workforce that is well positioned to meet the demands of advanced manufacturing, business services, digital industries, and innovation-led investment. 

Cultural and language skills

Latvia’s talent advantage is further strengthened by its exceptional multilingual capabilities. According to Eurostat, 95% of adults aged 25–64 speak at least one foreign language, placing Latvia among the leading countries in the European Union for multilingual proficiency. More than 90% of working adults speak at least one foreign language, making international communication a practical reality across most sectors–not a niche skill limited to a small group of specialists. This creates clear advantages for companies operating in export markets, shared services, customer support, technology, and cross-border business functions. 

Importantly, multilingualism in Latvia is broad-based and embedded early in the education system. English is studied by majority of primary school pupils, while German also has a strong presence among young learners. These early language foundations translate into internationally competitive proficiency levels later in life. In the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index, Latvia ranked 16th out of 123 countries and territories, with a score of 598 – an impressive result that reinforces the country’s ability to support globally connected business operations.

Latvia combines strong educational outcomes, growing technical capability, and outstanding language skills in a single talent market. The result is a workforce that is qualified, adaptable, and ready to support business expansion in both knowledge-intensive and industrial sectors. 

Contacts

Riga office

Address: Perses Street 2, Riga, Latvia, LV-1442
Web: www.investinlatvia.org
For more information: invest@liaa.gov.lv
For tailored advice contact our team of experts