Views on what counts as long-term employment at a single company differ markedly between generations in Latvia, according to survey data from AS “Ķekava Foods” conducted in cooperation with Norstat. Young people most often regard 3 to 5 years in one job as long-term employment, while those aged 30 to 39 point to a 5-to-10-year period. Meanwhile, residents aged 40 to 74 overwhelmingly regard more than 10 years in one job as long-term.
Actual work experience also points to relatively moderate mobility. Young people most often report that the longest period they have worked in one job is 1 to 3 years, while the number of years worked at a single company rises with age. For example, most residents aged 40 to 59 cite more than 10 years as their longest period in one job, while among those aged 60 to 74 it is already more than 20 years.
“The survey data show that the younger the generation, the shorter the period regarded as long-term work at one company. This points to differing career approaches across generations. For the younger generation, dynamism, growth and new experience matter most, while as age increases, more people come to see long-term work at one company as something that strengthens professional reputation and builds expertise. This means employers in Latvia increasingly need to adapt to a range of employee expectations, offering both development opportunities and long-term stability. These challenges are also relevant at Ķekava Foods, where around 1,000 people work, and we are proud that a significant share of our colleagues have chosen to build their long-term careers right here: 40%, or roughly 400 employees, have worked at Ķekava Foods for ten years or more. We also have employees who have been with us for more than 20, 30 and even 40 years. Our goal is to keep strengthening an environment in which employees see opportunities to develop, climb the career ladder and stay with the company long-term,” says Aiva Banga, Board Member and CEO of Ķekava Foods.
As the main reasons why staying at one company long-term is meaningful, residents most often cite stability and a sense of security about the future (41%), opportunities for career and professional growth (34%), the experience and expertise accumulated at a specific company (34%), and stable, predictable pay (31%).
As for the reasons why long-term work at one company is nonetheless not seen as meaningful, these are most often linked to risks to professional development. Residents cite the risk of routine and stagnation (48%), the sense that employee loyalty is not always valued by the employer (42%), limited career and growth opportunities (25%), and the view that faster pay growth can only be achieved by changing jobs (20%). At the same time, 8% of residents see broader work opportunities abroad, which confirms that most employees see their future as tied to Latvia.
“The survey data show a clear trend: as people get older, more of them come to value long-term work at one company. At the same time, it’s important to understand the reasons why employees do not always choose to stay in one job long-term. It’s worth noting that one of the most commonly cited reasons for scepticism is the feeling that employee loyalty is not sufficiently valued. That’s a significant point for employers to consider when building long-term relationships and strengthening trust with their staff. Ķekava Foods is deliberately developing this aspect by introducing a broad bonus programme, as well as a dedicated recognition initiative for long-serving employees. Under it, colleagues who reach significant work anniversaries receive cash bonuses and commemorative awards in recognition of their contribution to the company’s development,” says Aiva Banga.
The Ķekava Foods survey was conducted in cooperation with Norstat, polling 1,005 Latvian residents aged 18 to 74 in March this year.