In 2007, an average employee earned 10 percent more than a year earlier. According to the National Bank of Poland, every second employer has to offer higher wages in the first quarter of 2008 against 35 percent a year ago. The average increase will amount to 6.9 percent. In the period of April 1st 2007 – April 1st 2008 as many as 6 percent of employers will have increased wages four times against 1.5 percent a year earlier.
“This year, wages will continue the dynamic growth. The dynamics will amount to 10 percent year-on-year, i.e. more than in 2007. Strong wage growth with average dynamics of at least 8 percent will continue for three-five years. Polish employees still have much to catch up. There are two reasons: they still earn much less than in other EU countries and in the years 2000-05 their wages would grow very slowly, 1.5 percent annually on the average”, Karolina Sedzimir-Domanowska, PKO BP economist said.
Dariusz Winek, BGZ chief economist, disagrees.
“This year, wage growth dynamics will still be big.
But in 2009, wages will grow by only 5 percent due to jump of labor costs and
economic slowdown”, Dariusz Winek explained.