Poland Corporate Wage Growth Less Than Expected

Poland’s corporate sector wages rose 5.6% year-on-year to PLN 9,259.54 in August 2026, slowing from 6.8% in July and coming below market expectations of 6.6%. This marked the softest growth in four months. On a monthly basis, average gross wages fell 2.6%, reversing a 1.1% increase in July, as additional payments, including quarterly, annual and discretionary bonuses, awards and retirement severance payments, declined. Average paid employment fell 0.8% year-on-year to 6.37 million full-time equivalents, while also declining 0.2% month-on-month. Year to date, corporate sector wages have risen 5.9%, while employment has fallen 1.0%. The statutory minimum wage increased 3.0% to PLN 4,806 in January 2026, also contributing to wage growth.

Poland’s corporate sector wages rose 6.8% year-on-year to PLN 9,509.02 in July 2026, beating expectations of 6.2% and accelerating from 5.9% in June. This marked the strongest annual growth since December 2025, driven by faster wage growth across several sectors, including agriculture, forestry and fishing (26.2% vs. 1.9% in June), mining and quarrying (21.9% vs. 2.4%), electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (13.4% vs. 2.4%), water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation (7.3% vs. 7.1%), and information and communication (7.2% vs. 5.9%). On a monthly basis, average gross wages increased 1.1% in July, slowing from 2.5% in June. The increase was driven by additional payments, including bonuses and awards such as quarterly, annual and discretionary bonuses, as well as Forester’s Day awards, jubilee awards and retirement severance payments. Year to date, corporate sector wages have risen 5.9%.

Poland's corporate sector wages rose 5.9% year-on-year to PLN 9,401.58 in June 2026, exceeding market expectations of 5.6% and edging up from 5.8% in the previous month. Wage growth accelerated across several sectors, including manufacturing (6.6% vs 5.1% in May), mining and quarrying (2.4% vs 2.3%), agriculture, forestry, and fishing (1.9% vs 1.6%), construction (6.3% vs 5.4%), real estate activities (7.7% vs 6.9%), professional, scientific, and technical activities (9.3% vs 7.9%), and water supply; sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities (7.1% vs 6.7%). On a monthly basis, the average gross salary rebounded by 2.5%, following a 3.8% drop in May. The recovery was mainly driven by a higher volume of additional payments, including bonuses and awards such as quarterly, annual, incentive, and discretionary payments, as well as service anniversary awards and pay raises. Year-to-date, corporate sector wages grew 5.8%.