A survey conducted by Industra Bank during RTU Career Day shows that the main concerns young people have about their future careers are securing their first job or internship, salary levels, and opportunities for professional growth.

When asked, “What worries you most when thinking about your future career?”, around a quarter of respondents — 25% — said that finding their first job or internship was their biggest challenge. Students also pointed to a lack of experience and uncertainty about the value they can offer an employer.

Meanwhile, 17% of respondents identified salary and financial stability as their primary concern, while 19% highlighted professional development — whether they will be able to find work that is genuinely engaging and offers opportunities to grow.

Some students are also thinking more broadly about the future of the labour market. Eight per cent of those surveyed expressed concern about the impact of artificial intelligence on different professions, while 6% referred to global economic developments and the wider international environment.

“Young people are very clearly aware that the first step into the labour market is often the most difficult. That is why it is especially important for employers to create opportunities for students to gain practical experience — through internships, traineeships and their first professional projects. We see that young people are motivated, curious and ready to learn,” says Agija Freiberga, Head of HR at Industra Bank.

She also emphasises that, despite rapid technological progress, demand for people with analytical thinking, initiative and strong collaboration skills will only continue to grow: “These are exactly the skills that are becoming increasingly important in the financial sector as well.”

RTU Career Day brings together students and employers each year, giving young professionals the opportunity to explore different industries and enabling employers to meet potential future colleagues.

About Industra Bank
Industra Bank is a locally owned bank established by local entrepreneurs, with a clear focus on financing Latvian small and medium-sized enterprises and contributing to the development of the Latvian economy.

In 2025, Industra Bank delivered strong growth, with its loan portfolio increasing by 62% and total lending exceeding EUR 170 million by the end of the year. Customer deposits at year-end were close to EUR 300 million.

Industra Bank is the only locally owned bank in Latvia to have been independently assessed by a global rating agency. In February 2026, Moody’s Ratings assigned Industra Bank a Ba2 long-term deposit rating and a Ba3 senior unsecured bond rating, with a stable outlook.

Industra Bank serves nearly 20,000 customers, providing services both in person — at customer service centres in Riga, Daugavpils, Liepāja, Ventspils, and Jelgava — and remotely, regardless of the customer’s location.

More information is available at: https://industra.finance/

For further information:
Ieva Zauere
Industra Bank AS
Head of Marketing and Communications
+371 29485726
ieva.zauere(abols)industra.finance