Poland Corporate Wage Growth Exceeds Estimates

Poland's corporate sector wages rose 5.8% year-on-year to PLN 9,173.24 in May 2026, falling short of market expectations of 6% and following an over five-year low of 5.4% in the previous month. Gains were seen across most sectors, driven by a rebound in mining and quarrying (2.3% vs -11.0% in April) and faster wage growth in electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply (7.1% vs 3.8%), water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (6.7% vs 5.9%), transportation and storage (6.4% vs 5.5%), and information and communication (7.1% vs 5.8%). On a monthly basis, the average gross salary declined 3.8%, following a 1.3% drop in April. The decrease was mainly driven by the absence or reduced volume of additional payments, including bonuses and awards such as quarterly, annual, incentive and discretionary payments, as well as service anniversary awards. Year-to-date, corporate sector wages grew 5.9%.

Poland's corporate sector wages rose 5.4% year-on-year to PLN 9,530.74 in April 2026, falling short of market expectations of 6% and following a 6.6% increase in the previous month. It marked the weakest annual wage growth since February 2021, as gains moderated across most sectors, particularly manufacturing (5.7% vs 6.6% in March) and electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply (3.8% vs 11.6%), while wages declined in mining and quarrying (-11.0% vs 6.7%). On a monthly basis, the average gross salary declined 1.3%, reversing a 5.7% increase in March. The decrease was mainly driven by a reduced volume of additional payments, including bonuses and awards such as quarterly, annual, and Easter payments. On a year-to-date basis, corporate sector wages grew 5.9%.

Poland's corporate sector wages rose 6.6% year-on-year to PLN 9,652.19 in March 2026, exceeding market expectations of 6.3% and picking up from 6.1% in the previous two months. Gains were seen in the mining and quarrying sector (6.7%), manufacturing (6.6%), agriculture, forestry, and fishing (2.5%), and electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply (11.6%). On a monthly basis, the average gross salary jumped 5.7%, up from 1.5% in February. The rise was mainly driven by a larger volume of additional payments, including bonuses and awards such as quarterly, annual, Easter, and discretionary payouts, along with general wage increases. On a year-to-date basis, corporate sector wages grew 6.2%.