Slovakia sees construction growth and rising wages

Slovakia is experiencing significant activity in the construction and infrastructure sectors. Major projects including highways in Kysuce and Liptov, bypasses in cities like Šaľa and Brezno, and hospital reconstructions in Prešov, Banská Bystrica, and Martin are driving economic growth. Construction production reached over four billion euros in the first half of 2026, a nine percent increase compared to the previous year.

This growth has led to rising wages within the sector. In June, nominal wages in construction rose by 7.7 percent year-on-year, with real wages increasing by 4.1 percent. While skilled workers like foremen and masters are seeing attractive pay increases, standard laborers continue to earn significantly lower amounts.

Additionally, employees in Slovakia can continue to access recreation allowances through 2026. Employers with more than 49 employees are required to provide a benefit that covers 55 percent of eligible recreation expenses, up to a maximum of 275 euros per calendar year. This benefit can be applied to domestic stays of at least two nights and may extend to family members or parents under specific conditions.