Polish employers plan salary increases in 2026, report shows
Three out of four Polish companies plan to raise employee salaries this year, a new study by an international recruitment agency has found.
The study published on Wednesday by Hays Poland indicated that pay increases will be modest, with only five percent of firms expecting them to exceed ten percent.
The research also found that 84 percent of employers intend to recruit this year, just two percentage points fewer than in 2025.
The authors wrote that Poland's labour market has stabilised, with many companies undergoing organisational, structural and digital transformation in response to high business volatility and the growing impact of artificial intelligence. Experts at Hays Poland forecast that experienced operational staff, as well as sales and IT specialists, will be in the highest demand as companies navigate these changes.
Alex Shteingardt, the researcher's managing director, wrote that rapid digital transformation is already reshaping skills demand and will require employers in 2026 to develop competency maps, identify critical skills gaps and design effective workforce strategies.
The Hays Poland Salary Guide 2026 presents salary benchmarks for a range of specialist and managerial roles, along with key labour market trends. The findings are based on a survey conducted in late 2025 among nearly 1,100 employers and more than 1,800 employees. (PAP)
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