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Slovakia labour market shifts and wage developments

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

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2026-08-19 14:06 UTC → 2026-08-24 23:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In mid‑July 2026, analysis of Slovakia’s labour market highlighted a slowing of the long‑standing outflow of young workers. Improved domestic wages – average monthly earnings of €1,611 in Q1 2024 and a median of €1,473 the previous year – together with low unemployment (about 5.9 %) were cited as key factors behind the reduced migration of 18‑ to 35‑year‑olds, many of whom had historically moved to the Czech Republic and other EU neighbours. In addition, a modest inflow of migrants from Ukraine and India began reshaping the workforce. Official statistics for 2025 confirmed a continued wage up‑trend, with the average monthly salary across all Slovak districts rising 6.6 % year‑on‑year to €1,864. Total wage payments reached €36.7 billion, a 7 % increase from the previous year. However, significant regional and sectoral disparities persist. While Bratislava I recorded the highest average of €2,455, the Veľký Krtíš district reported the lowest at €1,294. Only 14 of the 79 districts reported wages above the national average. Sectoral data shows telecommunications and IT as the highest-earning industries, both exceeding €3,000, whereas the gastronomy and hospitality sector averaged only €998. Other low-earning sectors include the garment industry, social services, and security agencies, with wages below €1,300. ~~Looking ahead, the minimum wage is scheduled to rise to €972 on January 1, 2027, following a legislative mechanism tied to the average monthly wage from two years prior.~~ By August 2026, the construction and infrastructure sectors showed significant activity, with production exceeding four billion euros in the first half of the year, a nine percent increase over the previous year. This growth is driven by major projects such as highway developments in Kysuce and Liptov, city ~~bypasses,~~ bypasses in Šaľa and Brezno, and hospital reconstructions in Prešov, Banská Bystrica, and Martin. Within construction, June nominal wages rose 7.7 percent year-on-year, though pay increases were more pronounced for skilled workers like foremen and masters compared to standard laborers.

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