Latvians Wish To Earn 1780 € Net Salary

Latvians aspire to earn a net salary of 1780 €, which is 561 € more than their current average earnings, according to the labor market research conducted by CVMarket.lv job site. 

Latvian employees' salary desires reflect a wage pressure index of 32% as respondents' average earnings were 1219 eur net, indicating that employees currently earn 68% of their desired salary. In comparison, Estonia's wage pressure index was 34% last year but has decreased to 25% this year. Estonian workers wish to earn an average net salary of 2399€ when changing jobs.

Kristaps Kolosovs, Head of Business Development at CVMarket.lv job site, highlighted from the salary statistics that meeting the salary expectations is not just about retaining talent, but also about recognizing their value in a competitive job market. "Despite Latvia having the lowest inflation rate in Europe at 0.6%, inflation pressures are still being felt, leading to a clear demand for higher wages among workers.”

Half Of Latvians Are Dissatisfied With Their Current Earnings

CVMarket.lv survey also highlighted that half of the employees in Latvia are dissatisfied with their current salaries. The satisfaction threshold for wages in Latvia stands at 1633 € net, whereas in Estonia, it is 2007 € net. 

The satisfaction levels vary significantly across different job categories - for instance, entry-level office workers are content with 1199 €, whereas mid-level specialists require 2125 € to feel satisfied.

Top Specialists Salaries Increase Faster

When asked about their financial situation, 58% of respondents rated it as average, 16% as good, and 27% as poor. 

Furthermore, 37% of workers reported receiving a salary increase in the past year. Specifically, 37% had their wages increased, 11% saw a decrease, 41% experienced no change, 7% could not compare due to not being employed at the same time last year, and 3% were unsure.

The highest salary increases were reported among top specialists (50%), department heads (45%), project managers (44%), mid-level specialists (42%), and office workers (41%). 

Conversely, the least salary growth was observed among service workers (22%) and drivers (25%). This disparity highlights the need for a more balanced approach to salary adjustments across different job categories.

Compared to Estonia, 45% of employees received a salary increase over the past 12 months, 8% experienced a decrease, and 38% saw no change.

18% Of Employees Expect A Salary Increase Within The Next Months

Almost one in five employees (18%) expects a salary increase in the second half of the year. Among those, support staff are the most optimistic, with nearly one-third (31%) anticipating a raise.