High unemployment in Daugavpils
According to statistics, the unemployment rate in Daugavpils in October was over 10%, one of the highest in Latvia. Several large manufacturing companies have recently closed in Daugavpils, so residents have turned to Lithuania for new career opportunities.
Alekseys Sokolovs from Daugavpils, who joined Visagino Linija three weeks ago as a facilities operator: „I was unemployed for 9 months after my former employer faced difficulties and laid off most of its staff. Opportunities in Visaginas appealed because it is close to Daugavpils, so I didn't have to change my residence. In addition, the salary is higher, and there are attractive additional benefits, such as free transport or lunch allowance, and a gym. I am currently learning how to work with the equipment. After the training, I will start working without supervision“.
According to Alekseys, many of his compatriots are also attracted by work in a modern factory, a straightforward process for career advancement, and a Western-style internal culture.
A shortage of skilled professionals
Andrius Lickan, Head of Visagino Linija: „As production volumes increase, so does the demand for more staff. However, the unfavourable demographic situation in the country's regions is leading to a shortage of higher-qualified specialists capable of working with modern equipment. It is a problem for us and other companies in the SBA Group closer to major cities, such as Klaipėdos Baldai or Inno Line. Therefore, specialists from Latvia, who currently make up around 10% of the workforce at Visagino Linija, provide an opportunity for business expansion“.
According to Andrius, Daugavpils, with a population of around 80,000, is an industrial and railway city, which makes it easier to recruit employees with the right skills: plant operators, electricians, and automation specialists. When Visagino Linija announced its open days, a busload of people signed up within a few days. New employees are trained, each assigned a mentor who helps them adapt and coaches them to work independently.
Business efforts alone are not enough
According to the Head of Visagino Linija, complex solutions are needed at the national level to make the labour market active in the regions and allow businesses to flourish there.
Andrius Lickan concludes: „We cooperate with the Visaginas Vocational Training Centre for Technology and Business, providing opportunities for students to do internships, participate in apprenticeship programmes, and organise employee qualification improvement courses. We also cooperate with the Employment Service, but due to the population's migration to big cities, we have fewer and fewer opportunities to attract talented employees.“
He believes that more support for regional start-ups, improved public services and a comprehensive approach to the increasingly difficult demographic situation in areas far from cities could help address the problem.
