TOP employer 2021 rankings

Top 50 of the main category of the best employers in Latvia (top-of-mind) shows significant changes also this time. Only three companies, including the winner, have managed to maintain their rankings in the previous year. Seven companies have entered the top for the first time, while four companies have returned to the top 50 list. More than half of the companies have managed to improve their rankings. In total 880 companies were spontaneously mentioned in this category, so about 6% managed to enter the top 50 of the best employers.

Latvia’s largest bank AS “Swedbank” has been recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in 2021 in the category TOP employer – Top-of-mind again for the fourth year in a row, spontaneously mentioned as the first most desirable employer by 4.8% of all survey respondents. The biggest intrigue was about the second place where different companies were located during the survey. For the first time in the history, the food retail company SIA “Maxima Latvija” was recognized as the second best workplace, which was mentioned by 3.8% of the survey respondents. The top three is closed by another food retail company SIA “Lidl Latvija”, which was mentioned as the first most desirable employer by 3.1% of all respondents.

This time the title TOP employer – Public sector goes to the medical institution VSIA “Bērnu klīniskā universitātes slimnīca” that received the highest rating in the top 50 of the best employers among public sector organizations by ranking on the 21st position.

More than half of the top 50 best employers have managed to improve their positions last year, but the fastest growth in the top, by 37 places, this time is for the newcomer to the top – IT company SIA “TestDevLab”, which gets the title TOP Employer – Growth of the Year.

More than 7 400 people or 61% of all survey respondents participated in the voting of employers in the trade sector. In total, respondents voted for more than 220 companies, which highlights the highest competition among employers in all business sector categories. As a result of high competition, the 5th place was shared by two companies, so this year there are top 6 best employers.

In 2021, the newcomer to the top, the food retail company SIA “Lidl Latvia” has been recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in the trade sector by gathering 10.5% of the votes of survey participants of this category. The second place was won by the previous leader of the top – the fuel retail company SIA “Circle K Latvia”, which got 8.4% of the votes of the respondents. The third place went to the food retail company SIA “Rimi Latvia”, which got 7% of the votes of the respondents of this category.

Approximately 7 800 people or 64% of all respondents took part in the voting for employers in the IT and telecommunications sector, ranking this category as the most popular business sector for the first time. Respondents voted for more than 70 companies in this business sector. The top five employers in the sector have entered the top, receiving a total of 60% of the votes in their category. Two employers have maintained their positions in the top.

In 2021, the telecommunications company SIA “Latvijas Mobilais Telefons” was repeatedly recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in the IT and telecommunications sector for the tenth year in a row, receiving 20.5% of the votes of the survey participants in this sector. The second place was won for the first time by the telecommunications company SIA “Bite Latvija”, which got 10.8% of the votes of the survey participants. The third place went to the IT company “Accenture Latvijas filiāle”, which has entered the top three for the fifth year in a row in an equal fight with the 4th place winner, receiving 10.1% of the votes.

Almost 7 400 people or 60% of all respondents took part in the voting for employers in the financial sector, ranking this category as the third most popular among business sectors. Respondents voted for more than 65 companies in the financial sector. It should be noted that 73% of the respondents in this category voted for the top five companies, which is the second highest indicator among business sectors. The two best employers in the financial sector have maintained their positions in the top.

In 2021, the largest bank in Latvia AS “Swedbank” was repeatedly recognized as the best workplace in the financial sector in Latvia, gaining 34.6% of the votes. The second place, with a similar share of respondents as in the top of the previous year, was retained by AS “SEB banka”, which was voted by 15.8% of the survey participants. Third place went to insurance company AAS “Balta” for the first time by returning to the top five after a two-year break with 9.6% of the votes.

Almost 7 000 people or 57% of all survey respondents took part in the voting for the best employers in the manufacturing sector. Respondents voted for more than 210 manufacturing companies, marking the second most highest competition between business sectors. The top five employers in the manufacturing sector have entered the top, receiving almost 40% of the votes in their category. Only one company has kept its position in the top.

In 2021, the cosmetics company AS “Madara Cosmetics” was recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in the manufacturing sector, receiving 12% of the votes of the survey participants. The second place, in an equal fight with the 3rd place winner, was retained by the pharmaceutical company AS “Grindeks”, which got 7.5% of the votes of the survey participants. The previous top leader, the electricity generation company AS “Latvenergo”, is in third place, gaining 7.2% of the votes.

More than 6 900 people or more than half of all survey respondents took part in the voting for employers in the transport and logistics sector this year. Almost 120 companies in this business sector were voted for. The top five employers have entered the top, receiving more than 50% of the votes in their category. Two companies have maintained their positions in the top.

The Latvian national airline AS “Air Baltic Corporation” was repeatedly recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in the transport and logistics sector in 2021 for the tenth year in a row, receiving 23.1% of the votes of the survey participants. The second place was retained by the parcel delivery company SIA “DPD Latvija”, which was voted for by 8.6% of the survey participants. For the first time, the parcel delivery company SIA “Omniva” took the third place in an equal fight with the second place winner, receiving 8% of the votes this year.

The category of global business services (GBS) is for the second year and this year even more respondents participated in the voting for employers in this sector than last year – more than 6900 people or 56% of all survey respondents. More than 70 companies in this sector were mentioned, most of which were selected according to ABSL Latvia (Business Services Industry Association) data. Almost 60% of the respondents in this category have voted for the Top5 employers. The top five employers are the same as in the previous top, and three of them have retained their positions.

In 2021, SIA “Circle K Business Center” was repeatedly recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in the global business services sector, receiving 20.4% of the votes of the survey participants. The second place went to “Swedbank AB (publ) Latvijas filiāle”, which was voted for by 13.3% of the survey participants. The third place went to “Accenture Latvijas filiāle”, receiving 11.1% of the votes.

More than 6 500 people or 53% of all respondents took part in the voting for the best employers in the catering sector. In this category, respondents voted for 135 companies. More than 80% of the respondents in this category have voted for the top five employers, which is the largest share among all business sectors. Two employers have maintained their positions in the top.

For the sixth year in a row, AS “LIDO” was repeatedly recognized as the best workplace in the catering sector in Latvia in 2021, ensuring strong No. 1 position and receiving 36.7% of the respondents’ votes, which is the largest share of respondents in the first place among all business sectors. SIA “Lage Group” managed to enter the second place and the top five for the first time, which was voted for by 14.4% of respondents. The third place went to SIA “Vēl vairāk saules”, receiving 12.5% ​​of respondents’ votes.

More than 6 700 people or 55% of all survey respondents participated in the voting for employers in Kurzeme region, which is the second largest result among the regions. The respondents voted for almost 100 companies in Kurzeme. Only one company has managed to maintain its position in the top five.

In 2021, the textile production company LSEZ “LAUMA FABRICS” was recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in the Kurzeme region for the first time. The second place went to the previous top leader – the oil and oil products transshipment company SIA “Ventspils nafta termināls”, which was voted for by 8.2% of Kurzeme category respondents. The third place was repeatedly won by the architecture and design company AS “UPB”, with 6.5% of respondents voting for this employer.

More than 6 600 people or 54% of all survey participants took part in the voting for employers in Zemgale region. Respondents voted for almost 120 companies in Zemgale. The competition for the leading position was the most intense of all the categories, as only a few votes decided the final result and determined the first place winner.

The food production company AS “Dobeles dzirnavnieks” was recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in 2021 after a two-year break in Zemgale region, for which 15.3% of respondents voted. The previous top leader, domestic fuel retail company AS “Virši-A” took the second place, with 15% of the votes of respondents of Zemgale category. The third place was won for the first time by the beer producer SIA “Bauskas alus”, which was voted for by 8.5% of respondents.

Almost 7 000 people or 57% of the survey respondents took part in the voting for employers in Vidzeme region, thus ranking this category among the most popular regional categories, similarly to other years. Respondents voted for 135 companies in Vidzeme, which is the largest number of nominated employers in the regions. The TOP 5 of the best employers has undergone a change, keeping only the top leader unchanged.

In 2021, the beer production company AS “Cēsu alus” was repeatedly recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in Vidzeme region, for which 14.3% of the respondents in this category voted. For the first time, the bread production company SIA “Fazer Latvija” took the second place and the top five, with 12.8% of the votes of respondents. The production company AS “Valmieras stikla šķiedra” took the third place which was voted for by 6.9% of respondents.

More than 6 600 people or 54% of all survey participants took part in voting for employers in Latgale region. Respondents voted for about 80 companies in Latgale, which marks the least competition between regions. The share of votes in the top five companies makes up more than 58% of all participants in the Latgale category, which is the highest indicator among all regions.

The bakery company AS “Latvijas maiznieks” was repeatedly recognized as the best workplace in Latvia in the Latgale region in 2021 for the eighth year in a row, which received a strong rating as in the previous years – almost a third or 30.2% of the votes in this category of respondents. The milk processing production company AS “Preiļu siers” took the second place, with 8.7% of respondents voting for it. The third place was won by the meat processing company SIA “Rēzeknes gaļas kombināts”, which was voted by 7.3% of respondents.