Slovakia Real Wage Growth Slows in Q4

Real wages in Slovakia rose by 1.9% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, following a 1.3% increase in the previous period and extending growth to a ninth consecutive quarter. The average nominal monthly wage increased by 5.8% to EUR 1,739, up EUR 96 from a year earlier. All 19 monitored sectors recorded annual nominal wage gains, ranging from nearly 3% in public administration to over 11% in electricity, gas and steam supply. Real wages declined in three sectors, public administration (-1.2%), administrative services (-0.6%), and real estate activities (-0.4%), while most sectors posted gains above the national average. In industry, the largest employer, wages climbed 6.7% to EUR 1,884, while trade saw a 5.6% rise to EUR 1,597. Energy supply workers earned the highest wages, exceeding EUR 3,000 per month, whereas accommodation and food services remained the lowest-paid sector, with wages slightly above EUR 1,000.

Real wages in Slovakia rose by 1.3% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, easing sharply from a 4.5% increase in the second quarter. This was the second-slowest pace of growth in the past eight quarters. Real wages went up in 16 sectors, while three industries recorded declines: professional, scientific and technical activities (-2.4%), arts, entertainment and recreation (-1.4%), and administrative services (-1%). The average nominal monthly wage growth also decelerated to 5.7% at EUR 1,569, from 8.8% in the previous period. Still, all 19 monitored sectors recorded gains in average nominal wages, ranging from almost 2% in professional, scientific, and technical activities to more than 12% in the real estate sector. Wage growth also slowed in the sectors employing the largest number of people in Slovakia, namely industry and trade. For the first three quarters of 2025, the average nominal wage increased by 6.5% to EUR 1,580, while real wages rose by 2.3%.

Real wages in Slovakia rose by 4.5% year-on-year in the second quarter in 2025, marking the seventh consecutive period of growth, and the highest since the second quarter of 2024. The average nominal monthly wage growth rose to 8.8% at EUR 1,654, higher than 4.9% in the previous quarter. Still, all 19 monitored sectors recorded an annual growth in average nominal wages, ranging from more than 4% in the real estate sector to more than 16% in water management activities. Meanwhile, real wages rose in 19 sectors. For the first half of 2025, the average nominal wage increased by 6.9% to EUR 1,586, while real wages grew by 2.8%.