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4 clusters · 31 sources · 22 days · First seen 24 days ago · Last updated 3 days ago

Poland labor market and employment trends

Overview

During the first half of 2026, the Polish labor market experienced several shifts in employment trends and worker reporting. Data from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) indicated that while the number of medical certificates issued decreased by 2.7%, the total duration of sick leave remained stable at approximately 147.7 million days, suggesting longer individual absences.

In the enterprise sector, average gross monthly wages rose by 6.8% year-on-year, despite a 0.8% decrease in total employment. Statistics Poland data for March 2026 shows a median gross salary of 7,530.45 PLN and an average salary of 9,698.95 PLN. Earnings varied by company size: the median in firms with at least 1,000 employees was 8,695.04 PLN, whereas in entities with up to 9 employees, the median was 4,806 PLN, matching the minimum wage. A gender pay gap persists, with the median salary for men at 7,657.56 PLN compared to 7,407.10 PLN for women; the largest disparity was 43.4% in the finance and insurance sector.

Concurrently, the National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) reported a significant rise in discrimination complaints, reaching 775 in the first half of 2026. New reports also highlight challenges in workplace culture. The Gallup State of the Global Workplace 2026 report indicates only 7% of Polish employees are actively engaged, a trend linked to ‘quiet quitting’. Additionally, the enel-med ‘Łączy nas zdrowie 2025’ report shows 60% of workers have worked while sick without using medical leave, and 34% have performed duties while officially on sick leave (L4).

If current trends persist, total complaints for 2026 could exceed 2,000. New labor regulations scheduled for November 2026 may further impact these figures by establishing specific compensation for violations of equal treatment.

Entities

National Labour Inspectorate · Statistics Poland · Ministry of Health · enel-med · Jakub Szulc

Timeline

3 days ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Poland workplace trends show low engagement and working while ill
Reports indicate low employee engagement in Poland, with only 7% actively engaged, alongside a trend of 34% of workers performing duties while on official medical leave.
9 days ago

[BUSINESS] 6 sources
Poland median gross salary reaches 7,530.45 PLN in March 2026
Statistics Poland reports a median gross salary of 7,530.45 PLN for March 2026, showing significant disparities based on company size and gender.
19 days ago

[POLITICS] 9 sources
Poland's National Labour Inspectorate sees surge in discrimination complaints
Poland's National Labour Inspectorate reports a 40% rise in discrimination complaints in early 2026, primarily regarding gender pay gaps, as worker awareness and new regulations increase.
24 days ago

[BUSINESS] 18 sources
Poland labor market: Sick leave trends and wage growth
Poland's sick leave certificates fell by 2.7% in H1 2026, but total absence days remained stable. Meanwhile, average wages rose 6.8% in July, exceeding forecasts despite a slight drop in employment.

Sources

artbiznes.pl · bizblog.spidersweb.pl · biznes.interia.pl · czasnaopole.pl · dlahandlu.pl · dorzeczy.pl · expresselblag.pl · fakt.pl · forsal.pl · gazetaprawna.pl · gospodarka.gazeta.pl · horecatrends.pl · infopodkarpacie.pl · innpoland.pl · korso.pl · ksiegowosc-budzetowa.infor.pl · kurzy.cz · moj.powiat.pl · pit.pl · pulshr.pl · razydzisiaj.pl · reissprofile.pl · rmf24.pl · rynekzdrowia.pl · skandynawiainfo.pl · superbiz.se.pl · ttregionalna.pl · urodaizdrowie.pl · wiadomoscihandlowe.pl · wydarzenia.interia.pl · zdrowie.co.pl

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history