TOP employer 2023 rankings

The list of Latvia’s 50 most notable employers has experienced substantial shifts, including a change at the top spot, with only two companies retaining their rankings from last year’s list. Two newcomers have made it to the Top 50, while eleven have made a comeback. Additionally, ten companies have ascended in the rankings. Out of 1,251 companies mentioned spontaneously in this category, roughly 4% succeeded in breaking into the Top 50.

The battle for the top three positions was intense, featuring a diverse group of companies vying closely for these spots, resulting in a narrow vote margin among them. The food retailer SIA “Lidl Latvija” was acclaimed as Latvia’s best workplace 2023 in the category “Top Employer Top-of-Mind” securing 3.9% of the survey votes as the first-choice employer. Following closely was AS “Swedbank”, the previous year’s leader and Latvia’s largest bank, with 3.8% of the votes. Completing the top three is SIA “Latvijas aptieka”, a pharmaceutical retail company, chosen by 3.6% of respondents as the most desirable employer.

For the consecutive second year, Riga Stradins University has achieved the top spot among public sector organizations in the TOP 50 best employers list, securing the 16th position overall and earning the title “TOP Employer – Public Sector”.

From the previous year’s TOP 50, ten companies succeeded in advancing their rankings, with the most notable leap being a 42-place ascent by the information technology company SIA “Euro Live Technologies”. This remarkable climb awarded it the title “TOP Employer – Growth of the Year”, positioning it impressively at 9th place and marking its return among the top 50 best employers.

Approximately 10,000 survey participants, accounting for 57% of the total, cast their votes for employers within the trade sector, showcasing the second-largest participation across all business sector categories. Over 300 companies received votes, consistently highlighting the intense competition within the trade sector, as seen in previous years. Nearly half, or 47%, of the votes went to the top ten companies. Three employers maintained their top ten status, while one newcomer broke into the top ten for the first time.

For the third consecutive year, the food retailer SIA “Lidl Latvija” claimed the title of Latvia’s best workplace in the retail sector for 2023, garnering 9.3% of the votes. The race for second place was tightly contested, with fuel retailer AS “VIRŠI-A” securing this rank for the first time, earning 7.1% of the votes. The fuel retailer SIA “Circle K Latvia” captured third place, with 6.9% of survey respondents in this category supporting it.

Over 10,000 survey participants, representing 58% of the total respondents, cast their votes for employers in the IT and telecoms sector, marking it as the most favored business sector for multiple consecutive years. Votes were distributed among more than 110 companies. The top ten employers in this sector emerged prominently, securing a collective 80% of the category’s votes. Among these leaders, half improved their standings within the top ten, one maintained its position, and two broke into the top ten for the first time.

Continuing a remarkable streak for the twelfth year, the telecommunications company SIA “Latvijas Mobilais Telefons” was heralded as Latvia’s top workplace in the IT and telecoms sector for 2023, capturing a fifth or 20.2% of the sector’s votes. The battle for the runner-up positions was closely contested, with second to fourth places receiving nearly identical vote counts. SIA “Tet”, a technology and entertainment services company, clinched second place after a five-year break, with 9.9% of the votes. Close behind, the telecommunications company SIA “Bite Latvija” returned to the top three following a year’s absence, garnering 9.7% of the votes.

Over 9,600 participants, accounting for 56% of all survey respondents, cast their votes for employers in the financial sector, ranking it as the third most favored among business sectors. Votes were spread across more than 70 companies. An impressive 86% of votes in this sector were directed towards the top ten companies, one of the highest concentrations of votes within any business sector. Notably, this sector experienced the least fluctuation in rankings, with seven employers maintaining their positions in the top ten.

For an unparalleled twelfth consecutive year, AS “Swedbank”, the largest bank in Latvia, was acclaimed as Latvia’s best workplace in the financial sector for 2023, securing a third or 33.4% of the sector’s votes — the highest proportion received by any company across all business sectors. AS “SEB banka” preserved its second-place standing with a solid 12.9% of the votes. AAS “BALTA”, Latvia’s leading insurance company, also held onto third place with 9.2% of the votes, securing a spot in the top three for the third successive year.

Over 9,200 participants, or 53% of all survey respondents, selected their top employers in the manufacturing sector, casting votes for more than 320 companies and highlighting this sector as having the fiercest competition among business categories. The leading ten manufacturing sector employers emerged in the top ten, collectively receiving 43% of the votes in this category. Among these, three employers maintained their top ten status, and one company achieved its first-ever top ten ranking.

For the third consecutive year, cosmetics manufacturing company AS “Madara Cosmetics” has been distinguished as Latvia’s best workplace 2023 within the manufacturing sector, attracting 7.7% of the votes. AS “Grindeks”, a pharmaceutical company, continued its six-year streak in second place, securing 6.4% of the votes. Notably close in votes to the fourth place, AS “Latvijas Finieris”, a wood processing company, climbed into third place for the first time among the top stamping companies, with 4.3% of the category’s votes.

Over 8,900 participants, representing 51% of all respondents, selected their preferred employers within the transport and logistics sector this year, casting votes for over 140 companies. The top ten companies in this sector stood out, collectively garnering 72% of the votes within their category. Four of these companies have successfully maintained their top ten rankings.

For the twelfth consecutive year, the Latvian national airline, AS “Air Baltic Corporation”, has been acclaimed as Latvia’s best workplace 2023 in the transport and logistics sector, securing an even larger share of votes than the previous year – 33%. The race for the runner-up positions was tight and competitive, with the companies ranking second to fifth receiving remarkably similar vote counts. The parcel delivery company SIA “DPD Latvija” reclaimed its second-place position after a year’s absence, capturing 6.3% of this year’s votes. SIA “Omniva”, another parcel delivery company, secured third place, marking its third appearance in the top three with 6.2% of the votes.

This year, approximately 9,400 survey respondents, accounting for 54% of the total participants, cast their votes for their favored employers within the global business services sector, choosing from over 70 companies. The leading ten employers attracted 70% of the category’s votes. Three of these top ten companies maintained their positions from the previous year, and one company joined the top ten ranks for the first time.

SIA “Circle K Business Centre” was distinguished as Latvia’s best workplace for the fourth consecutive year in the global business services sector in 2023, garnering 19.2% of the votes within this sector. After stepping aside for a year, “Accenture Latvijas filiāle” climbed back to second place, receiving 11.8% of the votes. Meanwhile, “SEB Global Services” broke into the top three for its first time, landing in third place with 9% of the votes.

For its second year, the HoReCa sector — encompassing hotels, restaurants, and catering—remains on the TOP Employer list, evolving from the previous catering category. Over 8,000 respondents, representing 46% of the total survey participants, voted for their top employers in the HoReCa sector, with more than 100 companies receiving votes. An impressive 90% of votes in this category were cast for the top ten employers, the highest ratio across all business sectors. This sector also witnessed the largest shifts in ranking positions, with only one company retaining its spot and another entering the top ten for the first time.

SIA “LIDO”, a catering company, has been named Latvia’s best workplace 2023 in the HoReCa sector for the first time, after previously leading in the catering category, capturing 25% of the votes. SIA “Hotel Jurmala SPA”, last year’s category leader, secured the second place with a closely matched and significant 22.6% of the votes. Entering the top three for the first time, SIA “BBH Investments” (Baltic Beach Hotel & SPA) garnered 7.8% of the votes.

Over 8,400 participants, or 49% of all respondents, engaged in selecting their preferred employers within the Kurzeme region, with votes spanning nearly 100 companies. The top ten employers in this category garnered more than half of the total votes. In this competitive landscape, one company succeeded in retaining its top ten status, while four others advanced in the rankings.

For the third consecutive year, the textile manufacturing company LSEZ “LAUMA FABRICS” was acclaimed as the best workplace in Latvia for 2023 in the Kurzeme region, receiving 6.4% of the category’s votes. The race for the second and third spots was tightly contested, with the companies ranked second to seventh achieving remarkably close vote totals. SIA “BRABANTIA LATVIA”, a manufacturer of metal products, climbed into the second place and made its first appearance in the top three, securing 5.9% of the Kurzeme votes. Similarly, making its debut in the top three, the food retail company AS “DIĀNA” took third place with 5.8% of the votes in this category.

Over 8,500 respondents, representing 50% of all survey participants, cast their votes for employers in Zemgale, ranking it as the second most favored region. Votes were distributed among nearly 80 companies, with the top ten employers capturing more than 70% of the category’s votes. Six companies succeeded in retaining their rankings.

AS “Virši-A”, a local fuel retailer, was acclaimed as the best workplace in the Zemgale region of Latvia for 2023, reclaiming the top spot after a three-year break with 18.3% of the votes. The manufacturing company AS “Dobeles dzirnavnieks”, last year’s leader, secured second place with 14.9% of the votes. SIA “Bauskas alus”, a beer producer, maintained its third-place position, receiving 8.5% of the votes.

Over 8,700 participants, or 51% of those surveyed, voted for their preferred employers in the Vidzeme region, continuing its status as one of the most popular regional categories. Respondents cast votes for over 90 companies, with the top ten employers attracting 62% of the votes in this category. In this competitive field, three companies successfully held onto their positions, while two newcomers broke into the top ten for the first time.

Marking a historic first, the bakery company SIA “Fazer Latvija” has been recognized as the best workplace in the Vidzeme region of Latvia for 2023. This achievement marks the third time Fazer Latvija SIA has entered the top three, this time securing 16% of the votes. The beer producer AS “Cēsu alus”, which led the list in previous years, claimed second place with 13.9% of the votes. AS “Valmieras stikla šķiedra”, a manufacturing company, retained its third-place spot, receiving 6.9% of the votes and placing it among the top three employers in Vidzeme for a decade.

More than 8,300 individuals, or 48% of all survey participants, engaged in selecting their preferred employers in the Latgale region, with votes cast for over 50 companies. In Latgale, the top ten employers captured 74% of the votes, marking the highest concentration of votes for top employers in any region. In this competitive landscape, two companies retained their rankings, while three others broke into the top ten for their first time.

Once again, for the tenth consecutive year, the bread manufacturing company AS “Latvijas maiznieks” has been heralded as the best workplace in Latvia for 2023 within the Latgale region, capturing an impressive 30.8% of the category’s votes. This represents the most decisive lead for first place across all regions. Maintaining its second-place position, the meat processing company SIA “Rēzeknes gaļas kombināts” attracted 8.6% of the votes. Entering the top three for its first time, the milk processing production company AS “Latgales piens” received the support of 7.3% of the respondents.