Baltic area
The three Baltic countries – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – have 3.3 million of working-age population. Half of them live in Lithuania. Lithuanian residents have a high educational level. 92% of people of working age have higher or secondary education. Currently, it is the highest level of education among the population in the European Union.
Lithuania is among the countries that have implemented the EU’s strategic goal to have 40 percent of young adults (30-34 years old) in the EU with higher education by 2020.
93% of Lithuanians speak at least one foreign language, and every second resident speaks two foreign languages. 80 percent of Lithuanians can speak Russian, 38 percent English, and 14 percent know the German language. With increasing number of investors from Scandinavia, Lithuanian universities offer special programs in Scandinavian languages.
Although the Baltic countries is a home to many highly skilled, educated professionals, wages in the region are relatively low. The minimum wage in Lithuania is one of the lowest in the European Union. It is 555 euros. The minimum wage in Latvia is 430 euros, and 540 euros in Estonia. The average wage in Lithuania is about 1262,7 euros, in Estonia – 1396 euros, and in Latvia – 748 euros.
As employees, people in the South-West region are characterized by western way of thinking, loyalty, diligence, and innovativeness.