IT Recruitment in Latvia: A Complete Guide for Tech Businesses

Latvia is increasingly chosen as a nearshore base for the Nordics, DACH, and Western Europe. And there are good reasons for it: competitive rates, high skill levels, time-zone alignment, and close cultural alignment, to name a few.

Besides, the ICT sector in Latvia is growing rapidly and offers ever-expanding opportunities for skilled talent even in specialized niches. Therefore, if you’re looking for tech experts to support or streamline your business operations, that might be a great place to consider.

In this article, we’ve reviewed all the essentials needed to hire developers in Latvia efficiently, so that you can be all caught up with the country’s tech capabilities and talent landscape.

Overview of the Latvian IT Market

Becoming a fast-advancing tech hub in the Baltics, Latvia’s IT sector has become one of the strongest engines of the national economy. The data speaks for itself:

• Latvia ranks 38th among the 54 high-income group economies in the Global Innovation Index (in particular, running high in such aspects as Infrastructure and Creative outputs);
• The Latvian ICT sector contributed 6% to the GDP in 2023; 
• It boasts €5.2 billion in annual turnover; 
• 49% of IT services are reported as exported.

Key Factors Influencing Latvia’s IT Growth

Zooming in on the Latvian IT sector, there are several favorable factors driving its growth, including:

• Strong export orientation

Over 70% of Latvia’s ICT output is export-driven, with companies delivering services across the EU, Nordics, UK, and North America. Digital exports include custom software, SaaS, fintech platforms, cybersecurity services, and IT support, helping the sector scale beyond the small domestic market.

• High interest among developers in typically niche specializations. 

Beyond general software engineering, Latvia has developed depth in niche development areas (cybersecurity, fintech, automation, data-driven solutions, etc.), which attracts foreign companies that require advanced capabilities rather than broad, generic development.

• Advanced infrastructure. 

With one of the world’s fastest mobile internet speeds, robust data center availability, and high digital public services adoption, Latvia provides a mature environment for cloud-native or AI-driven solutions that require high performance and efficient data exchange.

• EU market access. 

As part of the European Union and Schengen zone, Latvia offers GDPR-aligned operations and full compatibility with other European compliance frameworks, which makes it more accessible to Europe-based IT projects.

• Orientation for global projects. 

With a proven track record of working with international teams, Latvian developers make it easy for companies looking to hire engineers who are also ready to operate in global distributed teams from day one.

• Digital-skills & ICT graduates pipeline.

Latvia ranks among the top countries in Europe in terms of ICT graduates per million population, with roughly 8% of all first-year higher-education students in Latvia choosing to study ICT-related programmes. This means there’s a consistent influx of proactive and ambitious junior engineers ready to join growing tech teams.

Top IT Outsourcing Hubs in Latvia

Latvia’s tech talent pool includes 7,000+ IT companies and over 43,000 ICT professionals, mainly concentrated in the following hubs:

• Riga

The country’s primary tech hub with the largest pool of mid- to senior-level engineers. Home to global R&D centers, strong fintech and cybersecurity ecosystems, and highly English-proficient teams.

• Daugavpils

A cost-efficient hub ideal for IT support, QA, and scalable outstaffing teams. Steady junior talent from local universities.

• Liepāja

A growing coastal tech center that is well-suited for nearshore teams and known for its tech talent.

• Ventspils

Known for its tech park and STEM focus, the city offers reliable talent for robotics, embedded systems, engineering-heavy, and other specialized projects.

• Jelgava

A smaller emerging hub with competitive costs, good for boutique teams in web development, DevOps, and data services.

Key Specialties and IT Roles in High Demand in Latvia

Latvia’s ecosystem is well-rounded and quite diverse. Overall, Latvia offers a balanced ratio of development providers across core technology domains: software development, mobile development, and web app development.  Besides, eCommerce development also has solid representation, which altogether reflects the country’s broad full-stack and product-engineering expertise. 

Meanwhile, some specialized areas (for example, DevOps and cloud computing) are in smaller representation. Still, note that it doesn’t necessarily mean there are no Latvian developers specializing in those niches, but just the number of them is lower compared to other domains. 

See more details in the table below.

Similar to key specialties, Latvia combines a diverse supply of tech stacks and a consistently high demand for skilled engineers.

In particular, there’s high demand for JavaScript-related skills and backend languages used in enterprise systems. JavaScript leads the market, with 45 specialized companies and more than 1,850 open vacancies. Besides, Python and Java show significant traction, too. 

First and foremost, such data highlights the IT focus on such tech areas as web and mobile development, data engineering, AI/ML, fintech, and large-scale enterprise projects. 

Why Latvia Is Gaining Attention as a Tech Talent Hub and Outsourcing Destination 

So, what makes software development outsourcing Latvia so attractive? Let’s explore core benefits.

✅ Competitive Salary Levels Compared to Western Europe

While Latvia is an EU country with high professional standards, its salary levels remain significantly more cost-effective than in Western Europe or the Nordics. This makes it attractive for companies looking to scale teams without compromising quality.

✅ Convenient Time Zone for Global Teams

The GMT+2 time zone overlaps well with both Europe and parts of the US, making real-time communication easy for distributed teams.

✅ Cultural Compatibility

Latvian teams are known for reliability, direct communication, and Western-aligned business culture. This minimizes risk and accelerates onboarding for international companies.

✅ Excellent English Proficiency

Latvian IT professionals typically have strong English skills and international work experience, making collaboration seamless for US, EU, and global companies.

✅ Flexible Recruitment Options

Companies can choose between full-time hires, dedicated remote teams, or contractor engagement via local agencies or EOR/PEO services. This means a high level of flexibility in hiring across different growth stages.

Average Salaries for IT Specialists in Latvia

As mentioned above, competitive rates of Latvia-based developers are among their greatest advantages. Learn how much you can save when you hire developers in Eastern Europe vs other Western markets.

Meanwhile, consider that some non-salary-related costs may add up, too: social contributions, admin-related costs, retention expenses, and more. Explore a more detailed breakdown of such potential expenses below.

Hiring Challenges & Tips for Successful IT Recruitment in Latvia

Latvia’s tech market is globally connected, but there may still be local-specific differences in hiring, along with the potential challenges:

• Limited local pool for niche skills. For example, cloud architecture, embedded systems, blockchain, AR/VR, etc.

• High competition from global employers. International companies actively recruit in Latvia, so top engineers often receive multiple offers to choose from.

• Legal and compliance considerations. Hiring in Latvia requires awareness of local labor laws, taxation, and GDPR standards, which might be a complex scope for those not familiar with any of them.

Based on years of hiring experience in the Baltics, we’ve gathered a practical, step-by-step checklist to help you overcome these challenges and attract and retain top Latvian developers.

Tip #1. Align Market & Candidate Expectations

• Research current salary benchmarks for the specific stack;
• Adjust timelines, considering Latvian engineers typically review several offers simultaneously;
• Prioritize benefits and core advantages based on preferences of local tech talent (f.e., senior developers value autonomy, technical ownership, modern processes, etc.);
• Recognize the preference for long-term collaboration, job stability, etc.

Tip #2. Use the Right Local Recruitment Channels

• Post jobs on Baltic-focused platforms (MeetFrank, LikeIT, CV.lv, LinkedIn);
• Engage in niche groups (JavaScript Latvia, DevClub, Women in Tech Latvia, to name a few);
• Use both inbound and outbound sourcing, considering that senior engineers often respond to personalized outreach;
• Attend or sponsor local events (DevOps Latvia, Riga Comm, TechChill, and others);
• Partner with local recruitment firms that are well-familiar with the Latvian market.

Tip #3. Streamline Your Interview Process

• Minimize the number of recruitment process rounds;
• Communicate timelines clearly and avoid long waiting periods;
• Ensure your technical assessments practical and highly relevant to the specific role;
• Share feedback quickly.

Tip #4. Offer a Smooth Onboarding Experience

• Prepare a structured onboarding plan;
• Assign a dedicated mentor or onboarding buddy to ensure support and alignment from the very start;
• Provide clear project context and all accesses from day one;
• Set clear expectations for communication and remote collaboration.

Tip #5. Prioritize Retention from Day One

• Offer continuous upskilling and certifications;
• Provide opportunities for cross-functional work and promotion;
• Maintain regular 1:1s to understand goals and concerns.

IT Recruitment Models in Latvia

Latvia offers several hiring pathways: direct recruitment, staff augmentation, recruitment process outsourcing, or Employer of Record are all viable options here. 

See their core differences in the table below. 

Why Outsource the Hiring Process to a Recruitment Agency in Latvia?

Latvia recruitment agency partners understand all the nuances of local hiring. This, in turn, enables faster hiring and higher-quality candidate matches, which is highly beneficial for businesses. See more details about the advantages in the table below.

With partners like Mobilunity, you can accelerate your entire hiring and team-management cycle. We find the right people faster, onboard them smoothly, and provide ongoing support for your team in Latvia and beyond.

Benefits of Acquiring Tech Talent in Latvia With Mobilunity

With partners like Mobilunity, you can accelerate your entire hiring and team-management cycle. We not only find the right people faster but also onboard them smoothly and provide ongoing support for your team in Latvia and beyond.

By partnering with us, you’ll benefit in the following ways:

• 30–50% lower costs vs. the US or Western Europe;
• Up to 2 times faster hiring;
• 360° administrative assistance;
• Strong talent retention;
• Flexible & scalable engagement models.

With our deep market expertise and end-to-end support model, you get it all: vetted talent, smooth onboarding, and long-term stability from a partner you can rely on.

Our Talent Sourcing Process and Global Expertise

Mobilunity uses a multi-layered recruitment approach built on years of hiring experience across 40+ multiple countries worldwide.

Our process includes:

• Targeted sourcing through local Latvian networks, communities, and passive talent pools;
• Thorough technical and cultural screening conducted by seasoned evaluators;
• Fast and transparent communication throughout the entire cycle;
• Global recruitment best practices adapted to Latvia’s unique hiring landscape.

Engagement Models for Hiring Developers in Latvia With Mobilunity 

Mobilunity offers multiple flexible options for building and scaling engineering teams in Latvia. Review our options below.

Model #1. Dedicated Development Team

With this model, Mobilunity assembles a full-time team of engineers who work exclusively on your product and are integrated seamlessly into your processes. You stay in control of the roadmap, priorities, and day-to-day management. Meanwhile, we help you handle everything around the team.

With this model, you’ll get:

• A fully dedicated team working as an extension of your in-house staff
• Full HR, admin, payroll, and compliance management handled by Mobilunity
• Reliable long-term collaboration with low turnover
• Ability to scale the team quickly 
• Predictable monthly costs and transparent budgeting

Model #2: FLEX On-Demand Tech Experts

This model is designed for companies that need immediate access to specialized skills or extra hands during peak workload. FLEX experts can support your team part-time or for defined project phases. This way, you focus on delivery while Mobilunity manages all back-office operations.

What you get with this model:

• Fast access even to hard-to-find expertise
• Flexible project hours/duration/workload arrangements
• No long-term commitments
• Easy to scale resources up or down 
• Low risk for urgent or experimental initiatives

Model #3. Local IT Recruitment Services

IT recruitment services are a perfect option for companies looking to hire full-time employees directly in Latvia. 

This way, Mobilunity conducts deep market research, sources candidates through local networks, runs technical and cultural evaluation, and helps you structure competitive offers aligned with Latvian expectations. 

What you get in this model scenario:

• Access to Latvia’s entire tech talent market, including passive candidates
• Thorough technical screening and culture-fit evaluation
• Offer preparation support tailored to local norms and expectations
• Faster, more accurate hiring decisions with reduced internal workload
• A recruitment partner who understands local salary benchmarks and compliance requirements

Whatever your tech talent needs or business requirements are, Latvia offers a strong footing. Mobilunity, in turn, can ensure you make the most of it. We help companies efficiently hire top-notch developers in Latvia and worldwide.

Hire developers in other Countries

Expand your team’s capabilities by recruiting experienced developers from around the globe. Utilize their varied backgrounds and specialized skills to spur innovation and advance your technology endeavors.

Spain

Latvia

Lithuania

Australia

Ireland

Final Thoughts on IT Recruitment in Latvia

Considering these benefits and rapid IT growth dynamics, Latvia is a great fit for:

• European companies seeking nearshore teams with time-zone and cultural alignment;
• Startups and scale-ups looking for affordable but highly skilled developers;
• Businesses needing niche expertise in fintech, cybersecurity, cloud, automation, or AI/ML;
• Teams that want flexible engagement models to fit various needs;
• Companies operating globally and requiring engineers experienced in distributed collaboration

Written by:

Anastasia Stefanuk

Market Researcher

Disclaimer: All salaries and prices mentioned within the article are approximate numbers based on the research done by our in-house Marketing Research Team. Please use these numbers as a reference for comparison only. Feel free to use the contact form to inquire on the specific cost of the talent according to your vacancy requirements and chosen model of engagement.