August salaries slowing, employment falling in Poland
In August 2025, Poland’s labor market showed signs of weakening. Wages grew by 7.1% year-on-year, down from 7.6% in July, marking the slowest pace in over four years and below expectations. On a monthly basis, wages fell 1.5%, mainly due to fewer bonuses and extra payouts. Meanwhile, employment declined by 0.8% y/y, continuing a downward trend across key sectors like industry, construction, trade, and transport. Real purchasing power of the wage fund increased modestly (3.2% y/y), but shrinking employment poses risks to consumption growth.
Registered unemployment rose to 5.5%, up 0.5 pp y/y, partly due to easier registration rules. Despite challenges, Poland still ranks among EU countries with the lowest unemployment rates.
