If you’re planning to go to work in Latvia, then this is the perfect article for you! Learn how to say several professions in Latvian and how it is to work in this epic country today!
As a foreigner, you’ll find that Latvia, especially Riga, is a great workplace. This country, between Estonia and Lithuania, has a population of around 2 million people and is characterized by a calm and relaxed pace. There are plenty of restaurants and bars throughout town for an end-of-the-day drink with your coworkers, parks for a sunset run, and many cultural experiences for you to explore.
In this article, we’re going to discuss how life and work are in Latvia as well as explore how to say a few common professions in Latvia. But first, let’s talk a bit about living in Latvia.
Is Latvia A Good Place To Live And Work?
Although a fairly small country, Latvia offers an excellent quality of life and potential for expats. It has many natural wonders to fill your weekends and holidays, such as incredible castles and historical relics to discover, natural parks to explore, lakes, mountains, and much more.
Latvia is one of the most affordable countries in Europe, making it a perfect place for people who want a high quality of life but still have to stick to a budget. Despite not having an underground system in Riga, you can easily commute by bus, trolley-buses, or tram, reaching all the corners of the capital without spending much!
For digital nomads, Latvia is a connected paradise as it has one of the fastest internet speeds in Europe. Did you know that there are over 800 free connection points in Riga for you to connect to the web? How awesome is that? As most of the job opportunities for foreigners are in Riga, this is where most expats choose to settle. Accommodation in the capital is very affordable, and you can find a one-bedroom apartment in Riga for around €350 per month.
On the cons list for this incredible country is its unpredictable and sometimes very adverse weather. If you’re not a fan of the cold, then maybe this is not the right place for you, as the average annual air temperature is around 6ºC, with the highest temperature in July at around 22ºC and the lowest in January at around -8ºC.
Professions In Latvian
As a regular European country, Latvia has a range of different Latvian jobs that are common and frequent in the working environment. Mostly in Riga, expats have plenty of opportunities to explore, either by joining a job opportunity open in Latvia or by transferring their position. You’ll likely find a position that suits your needs and to which you have a good skill set.
Due to the country’s current development and economic development, the occupations that are seeing a high demand among Latvian people are engineers, builders, financiers, and programmers. Here is a list of the most common professions and their translation according to their industry.
Business Related Jobs
| Business Related Jobs | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Accountant | Grāmatvedis | |
| Administrative Assistant | Administratīvais asistents | |
| Business Operations Manager | Biznesa operāciju vadītājs | |
| Customer Service Representative | Klientu apkalpošanas darbinieks | |
| Executive Assistant | Izpilddirektora palīdze | |
| Financial Analyst | Finanšu analītiķis | |
| Financial Manager | Finansu menedžeris | |
| HR Specialist | HR speciālists | |
| Interpreter & Translator | Tulks un tulkotājs | |
| Market Research Analyst | Tirgus izpētes analītiķis | |
| Marketing Manager | Mārketinga menedžeris | |
| Public Relations Specialist | Sabiedrisko attiecību speciālists | |
| Receptionist | Reģistratūra | |
| Sales Manager | Pārdošanas menedžeris | |
| Sales Representative | Tirdzniecības pārstāvis |
Medical Jobs
| Medical Jobs | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Clinical Laboratory Technician | Klīniskās laboratorijas tehniķis | |
| Dental Assistant | Zobārsta asistents | |
| Dental Hygienist | Zobu higiēnists | |
| Dentist | Zobārsts | |
| Medical Assistant | Medicīnas palīgs | |
| Medical Secretary | Medicīnas sekretārs | |
| Nursing Aide | Māsu palīgs | |
| Paramedic | Feldšeris | |
| Personal Care Aide | Personīgās aprūpes palīgs | |
| Pharmacist | Farmaceits | |
| Pharmacy Technician | Farmācijas tehniķis | |
| Physical Therapist | Fizioterapeits | |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | Fizioterapeita asistents | |
| Physician | Ārsts | |
| Registered Nurse | Reģistrēta medmāsa | |
| Veterinarian | Veterinārārsts |
Agriculture Jobs
| Agriculture Jobs | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Agricultural economist | Lauksaimniecības ekonomists | |
| Agricultural engineer | Lauksaimniecības inženieris | |
| Agricultural technician | Lauksaimniecības tehniķis | |
| Agricultural technologist | Lauksaimniecības tehnologs | |
| Biochemist | Bioķīmiķis | |
| Conservation planner | Saglabāšanas plānotājs | |
| Environmental planner | Vides plānotājs | |
| Equipment technician | Iekārtu tehniķis |
Education Jobs
| Education Jobs | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Elementary School Teacher | Pamatskolas skolotājs | |
| High School Teacher | Vidusskolas skolotājs | |
| Preschool Teacher | Pirmsskolas skolotājs | |
| Sports Coach | Sporta treneris | |
| Teacher Assistant | Skolotāja palīgs |
Trade Jobs
| Trade Jobs | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Auto Mechanic | Auto mehāniķis | |
| Brickmason | Mūrnieks | |
| Carpenter | Galdnieks | |
| Electrician | Elektriķis | |
| Hairdresser | Frizieris | |
| Maintenance & Repair Worker | Apkopes un remonta darbinieks | |
| Painter | Gleznotājs | |
| Construction Manager | Būvdarbu vadītājs | |
| Construction Worker | Celtnieks |
IT Jobs
| IT Jobs | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Computer Programmer | Datorprogrammētājs | |
| Computer Systems Administrator | Datorsistēmu administrators | |
| Computer Systems Analyst | Datorsistēmu analītiķis | |
| Database Administrator | Datu bāzes administrators | |
| IT Manager | IT menedžeris | |
| Web Developer | Web izstrādātājs | |
| Software Developer | Programmatūras izstrādātājs |
Law Related Jobs
| Other Professions | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Barrister | Advokāts | |
| Clerk | Lerēdnis | |
| Judge | Tiesnesis | |
| Lawyer | Advokāts | |
| Law Assistant | Juridiskais palīgs | |
| Law Professor | tiesību profesors | |
| Paralegal | advokāta palīgs | |
| Social Worker | Sociālais darbinieks | |
| Substance Abuse Counselor | Vielu lietošanas padomnieks |
Other Professions
| Other Professions | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Architect | Arhitekts | |
| Civil Engineer | Būvinženieris | |
| Cook | Pavārs | |
| Delivery Truck Driver | Piegādes kravas automašīnas vadītājs | |
| Event Planner | Pasākumu plānotājs | |
| Fireman | Ugunsdzēsējs | |
| Insurance Agent | Apdrošināšanas aģents | |
| Marriage Therapist | Laulību terapeits | |
| Massage Therapist | Masāžas terapeits | |
| Mechanical Engineer | Mašīnbūves inženieris | |
| Mental Health Counselor | Garīgās veselības konsultants | |
| Occupational Therapist | Ergoterapeits | |
| Physical Therapist | Fizioterapeits | |
| Policeman | Policists | |
| Real Estate Agent | Nekustamā īpašuma aģents | |
| School Counselor | Skolas padomnieks | |
| Security Guard | Apsargs | |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | Runas-valodas patologs |
How To Get A Job In Latvia
The best ways to find Latvian jobs are by personal contact, employment agencies, recruitment firms or through the huge showcase of jobs on the internet and job posting portals. What we do know, though, is that learning Latvian is a plus when you’re looking for a job, as some of the job opportunities require that you speak the official language. However, as this is a pretty modern country, most opportunities require you to have a good knowledge of English, so you’re good there!
If you want to impress your contract and coworkers, then learning a few languages, Latvian, is not wrong!
Learn Latvian With Ling!
If you want to start your first day at your new job with a baggage full of vocabulary to break the ice with your team, then you should try Ling App! With Ling, you can quickly learn Lithuanian and 60+ other languages at your own pace! Just log in to the app and start learning anywhere, anytime! As easy as that!
You’ll learn vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation through games, quizzes, and puzzles. It is learning made fun! Download Ling App today and start your Lithuanian learning journey with us!
