[REVISION HISTORY]

Poland labor market and employment trends

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-02 16:05 UTC → 2026-09-10 04:05 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. Concurrently, the National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) reported a significant rise in discrimination complaints. The number of reports in the first half of 2026 reached 775, an increase of over 40 percent compared to the same period in 2025 and nearly double the 378 complaints from the first half of 2024. Gender-based wage discrimination was identified as the most frequent allegation. Analysts noted that this surge might reflect increased employee awareness and a greater willingness to report rights violations rather than a direct decline in working conditions. New data from Statistics Poland data for March 2026 shows a median gross salary of 7,530.45 ~~PLN, while the~~ PLN and an average salary ~~reached~~ 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 most significant~~ women; the largest disparity was ~~noted~~ 43.4% in the finance and insurance ~~sector, where~~ sector. Concurrently, the ~~gap reached 43.4%.~~ 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. Additionally, the expansion of PIP’s inspection authorities has drawn responses from entities in the platform economy, such as Pyszne.pl, which has called for clear and proportionate rules to prevent legal uncertainty for entrepreneurs.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.