News
Baltic salary markets in 2026: similar salary increases, different labour-market realities
30.01.2026
Figure’s forecast survey tells us that looking ahead to 2026, the Baltic countries appear, at first glance, to be moving in sync, but labour market dynamics are diverging according to perceived economic realities of the last few years. Salary growth is slowing down across the Baltics, and inflation is no longer the dominant driver of pay decisions. Employers across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are approaching the year with cautious optimism rather than urgency, being more optimistic towards the south of the region.
“Figure” Forecast Survey: Base Salaries Expected to Increase by 4.2% in 2026
12.01.2026
In 2025, average monthly base salaries increased by 6.2%, showing a slower pace of growth compared to previous years. A further deceleration is expected in 2026: the forecasted increase in monthly base salaries is 4.2%, while total annual remuneration is projected to rise by 4.4%, according to the Forecast Survey conducted by the remuneration research and management consulting company Figure Baltic Advisory. The current forecast is more moderate than the projection made in the summer of last year (4.6%).
Why Do Good Goals Stay “on Paper” - and How Can We Change That?
12.01.2026
January is often the time when employees and managers across many organisations agree on goals for the year ahead. These discussions usually cover both company-wide objectives and individual development goals. But how do we set goals that are both inspiring and realistically achievable? And how can we ensure that goals do not remain merely “on paper” but are actually accomplished? Defining and tracking goals is precisely where many leaders still struggle.
New EU directive encourages employers to hold more systematic salary discussions
16.12.2025
Next year, a new directive on salary transparency (No. 2023/970) will come into force in the European Union, with the aim of reducing and preventing the gender pay gap and strengthening employees' rights to information about their salary level and how it is determined. Although many employers associate the directive primarily with tedious reporting obligations and an increasing administrative burden, it also encourages employers to make their wage policies more systematic and transparent, and thus more motivating for employees. One very practical tool in this process, which also offers opportunities to promote employee-centered management practices, is the regular salary review.
The Minimum Wage Is Half of a Living Wage
09.12.2025
When discussing pay, the issue of the minimum wage as the lowest salary threshold is often raised. This year, the minimum wage in Latvia is €740, which is €40 more than last year. In 2026, it will reach €780 before taxes, and according to data from the State Labour Inspectorate, nearly one-fifth of all employees in Latvia earn the minimum wage. In reality, when policymakers decide on pay thresholds, they should also be talking about a humane wage. In this context, it is essential to analyse what the living wage is in Riga and in the regions. This amount is significantly higher than €740.