Slovakia Real Wage Growth Slows in Q1

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%.

Real wages in Slovakia rose by 1% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, marking the sixth consecutive period of growth, though easing from a 1.6% increase in the previous quarter. The average nominal monthly wage growth rose to 4.9% at EUR 1,518, higher than 4.9% in the previous quarter. Still, 16 out of 19 monitored sectors recorded an annual growth in average nominal wages, ranging from 1.0% in the education sector to 13.9% in real estate activities. Meanwhile, real wages rose in 16 sectors, but three industries saw declines, namely electricity, gas, steam, waste management and remediation (-11.4%), education (-2.8%), and public administration (-1.7%). Overall, in Q1 2025, the average nominal wage increased by 4.9% to EUR 1,518, while real wages grew by 1%.