A decade ago, seasonal jobs in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland could offer earnings up to three times higher than similar work in Poland. However, rapid wage growth in Poland, especially increases in the minimum wage, has significantly reduced that advantage.
Today, workers in Western Europe can generally expect to earn around twice as much as in Poland, rather than three times as much as in the past. Despite this change, skilled professionals such as welders, electricians, and plumbers remain in high demand and can still secure attractive salaries abroad.
According to figures cited by Rzeczpospolita, unskilled workers in Germany can earn between slightly over 2 thousand and 3 thousand euros gross per month. Skilled specialists, meanwhile, may earn between 5 thousand and 6 thousand euros monthly. Employers abroad are increasingly looking for workers with specific technical skills, particularly in construction and industry.
The changing economic landscape is also affecting migration plans. Data from the “Barometer of the Polish Labor Market” shows that only 10 percent of respondents are considering working abroad within the next two years. In 2022, that figure stood at 21 percent.
Experts say the trend reflects Poland’s improving labor market and rising living standards, which are making domestic employment opportunities more competitive than in previous years.
(aj)
SOURCE: IAR, Rzeczpospolita