Poland economic updates: wage growth and pension projections

Recent economic data and legislative proposals in Poland highlight significant shifts in wages and social benefits. According to Statistics Poland (GUS), the median gross monthly salary in March 2026 was 7,530.45 PLN, while the average salary reached 9,698.95 PLN. The data shows a 2.1% month-on-month decrease in the median, though it remains 7.6% higher than the previous year.

Regarding social welfare, the government is finalizing plans to increase the minimum wage to 4,950 PLN gross starting January 1, 2027. This move is expected to benefit citizens by 2.2 billion PLN, though it may impose nearly 3 billion PLN in additional costs on small and medium-sized enterprises. Additionally, the '800 plus' program is slated for reform in 2027 to include automatic benefit extensions to reduce bureaucratic burdens.

Projections for pension indexation in 2027 suggest an increase of approximately 3.96%, driven by economic forecasts and inflation expectations. This could raise the minimum pension to roughly 2,050 PLN gross. The 2027 budget also accounts for 13th and 14th pension payments. Meanwhile, a petition has reached the Sejm proposing separate life expectancy tables for men and women, which could potentially increase male pensions by 13% while decreasing female pensions by 8%.