Latvia among EU countries with lowest digital skills levels
Only three EU member states have lower basic digital skills levels than Latvia, according to data. The association Riga TechGirls is inviting people to apply for its free training programme 'Get to Know Technologies' to help close the gap.
Latvia ranks among the European Union countries with the lowest levels of basic digital skills — only three member states perform worse. At the same time, technological literacy is becoming increasingly important both for specific professions and for career development more broadly.
Experts point out that insufficient digital skills are no longer just a matter of personal professional growth — they also affect companies' competitiveness and even national security. This is especially relevant as more work processes, services and information increasingly move into the digital environment, while technologies themselves evolve rapidly, making it essential for society to understand how to use them and what risks they may carry.
A programme open to everyone
To help narrow this gap, the association Riga TechGirls offers a free educational programme called "Get to Know Technologies," open to anyone regardless of age or prior experience in technology. Since the programme launched in 2020, it has already been completed by 36,000 participants. Notably, survey data show that only 5% of participants work in the IT sector, confirming that the lack of digital skills also affects professionals from other fields.
Training is conducted in Latvian and combines several formats — self-paced online learning, lectures led by industry experts, practical workshops, and in-person events. Participants will explore topics such as digital product design, data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, IT project management, automation and digital marketing.
Agnese Bļodniece, project manager at Riga TechGirls, emphasizes that technological development alone is not enough — it is equally important to give people the opportunity and motivation to acquire these skills so that Latvia can move closer to other European countries in terms of digital competence.
The programme also includes in-person meetings with companies and industry professionals, offering insight into internship and job opportunities, as well as a community where participants can share experience and build professional connections. Applications for the "Get to Know Technologies" programme are open until September 21, 2026.
