Residents of Latvia consider politician’s profession as the most financially-stable. While in terms of financial stability, scientist’s profession is likened to street sweeper or janitor’s job.

The TOP5 most stable professions are: politicians (45%), lawyers and solicitors (39%), doctors and physicians (36%), computer specialists and programmers (32%) while economists and financiers (22%) conclude the TOP5, according to the Money Planning Centre and SKDS conducted survey.

Respondents had to assess 16 different professions, evaluating their financial stability based on such criteria as the possibility of finding a job and amount of salary.

Professions who have long been regarded as prestigious are also considered to be financially-stable, indicates Signe Bierande, head of the Money Planning Centre. She adds that in the occupation stability assessment the residents of regions prefer doctor/medical (40%) and computer programmer profession (35%). Agricultural workers’ job is also regarded as stable (13%).

However, residents of cities mention politicians, lawyers/solicitors, economists, financiers, street sweepers and janitors’ as having the most stable professions.

Also, residents still consider military and police officers’ posts (14%) as financially stable. Teachers and educators professions are viewed as relatively financially-sound – 12%. Whereas, builders’ trade, which few years ago was considered as one of the most profitable, is now rarely mentioned as financially-stable – only 8% of the surveyed claim this.

The lowest financial stability indicators are recorded for scientists and workers (including turners, milling-machine operators, locksmiths, welders, etc.) – 5%.

In all countries, science is directly dependent on the state, as well as, private business funding and support. Unfortunately, in Latvia science funding has always been way off the necessary and far less than in developed countries, thus demonstrating the state’s true attitude.

Therefore, the prestigious and well-paid scientists’ occupation is considered to be financially unstable in Latvia, indicates the University of Latvia rector and professor Marcis Auziņš.

Other professions, according to the financial stability assessment, mainly include the services sector professions and engineers: shop assistants, sales staff (13%); hairdressers and beauty experts (11%); engineers (10%); agricultural workers (9%); chauffeurs and transport drivers and street sweepers and janitors–7%.