The pace of salary increases in Poland has reached its lowest level in the last five years. Employers are less frequently reviewing salaries, and the labor market is moving to a more restrained model after several years of active income growth. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine citing the analytical center Gremi Personal.
Salaries in Poland are growing at the slowest rate since 2021
As of the first quarter of 2026, the average salary in Poland increased by 6.3% year-on-year. This is the lowest increase rate since 2021.
At the beginning of the year, the average salary was 9,263.5 zlotys gross. According to analysts, the period when companies increased salaries by 10-13% annually due to a labor shortage has ended.
One of the main reasons is the gradual cooling of the labor market. Inflation has slowed down, thus the pressure on employers for rapid salary increases has significantly decreased.
In addition, the minimum wage was raised by only 3% to 4,806 zlotys gross starting January 1, 2026. In comparison, it was increased by 10% the previous year.
Working in Poland: why companies are freezing salary increases
According to Gremi Personal's estimates, about 68% of Polish companies have temporarily refrained from reviewing salaries. Businesses have focused on controlling costs and are approaching staff expansions more cautiously.
«The Polish labor market is gradually exiting the overheating phase. Salary is no longer the main tool in the competition for personnel, and companies are increasingly returning to more conservative cost management,» noted Gremi Personal founder Yevhen Kirichenko.
At the same time, certain sectors continue to demonstrate higher income growth rates. The largest increases are observed for employees in the defense industry, logistics, and electronics manufacturing.
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What are the salary forecasts in Poland until the end of 2026
Analysts point out that geopolitical tensions and potential increases in energy prices, which have already affected inflation in spring, may pose a new challenge for the economy.
Despite this, experts predict a relatively stable labor market until the end of 2026. Salaries are expected to continue growing in the range of 6-8% per year, which will allow companies to control costs and employees to partially offset the impact of inflation.
It is worth noting that Polish workers are among the most burdened in the European Union. In 2025, the average working week in the country was 38 hours, significantly exceeding the average across the EU.