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Rising student costs and labor market shifts in Poland

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2026-09-29 19:01 UTC → 2026-09-30 11:51 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Educational and living expenses for students in Poland continue to rise, with tutoring costs exceeding 70 PLN per hour. According to the ‘Student Wallet 2026’ report by the Polish Bank Association, average monthly student expenditures have reached 4,045.82 PLN, up from 1,574 PLN in 2016. This cost of living has driven 42% of students to consider permanent employment. Currently, 54% of students are employed, with average monthly net earnings rising to 4,148 PLN. Despite this increase, a significant gap remains between current wages and student expectations, as many seek monthly net salaries near 10,000 PLN. The Polish labor market is undergoing structural shifts. The automotive sector has reached a nine-year low in employment; reports from AutomotiveSuppliers.pl and SAMAR indicate that average employment fell by 7,100 positions year-over-year in the first half of 2026, returning to 2017 levels. The most significant losses occurred in the automotive parts and accessories segment, which saw a 4.5% decrease, even as vehicle and engine production saw slight increases. Employment in the industry dropped to 192,600 during this period. New data for the first half of 2026 shows a broader downturn in the automotive industry. The value of sold production for companies with more than nine employees fell by 0.5% year-over-year to 117.9 billion PLN, driven by a 4.3% decrease in vehicle production. While trailer and semi-trailer production rose by 13.2%, automotive exports dropped 4.91% to 22.8 billion EUR. Consequently, employment in medium and large companies fell by 3.2%, returning to levels not seen since 2017. Demographic changes further complicate the landscape, with the Central Statistical Office (GUS) projecting a shrinking working-age population through 2040. An aging population is creating a shrinking pool of mobile workers, specifically within the 18–44 age group. This trend is compounded by ageism; research indicates 36% of workers aged 45–59 have experienced age-related discrimination. Additionally, mental health remains a critical factor in absenteeism; in 2025, Poles lost over 34 million working days due to mental and behavioral disorders, a 12.4 percent increase from the previous year.

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