Poland's Gen Z Ditch Seasonal Jobs Abroad for Local Work

Polish Wages Rise, Changing Old Habits
For decades, students and young workers in Poland would spend their summers doing short-term jobs in countries like Germany or the Netherlands. Known as "saksy," these seasonal migrations once allowed workers to earn up to four times more than they could at home. But now that gap has significantly narrowed.

Poland's current gross minimum wage stands at 4,700 złoty (€1,105), placing the country ninth in the EU—higher than Portugal and Greece. Krzysztof Inglot, founder of the employment agency Personnel Service, noted that workers under 26, who are exempt from income tax, effectively earn 30.5 złoty gross (€7.17) per hour as take-home pay.

With travel, accommodation, and food costs rising in Western Europe, the difference between local and foreign wages has become much smaller. Inglot explained that many young Poles now earn over €7 per hour for basic jobs in Poland, which compares closely to the €9–12 per hour net wage offered in countries like Germany.

From Money to Motivation
Inglot also pointed out that those who still choose to work abroad are often driven more by the opportunity to travel or improve their language skills than by financial reasons.

Tomasz Dudek, managing director at Otto Work Force Central Europe, confirmed a slight decline in interest among Polish seasonal workers compared to two or three years ago. His agency, which once primarily sent Poles to the Netherlands, is now recruiting more workers from Bulgaria and Romania to meet seasonal demand in industries such as agriculture and food processing.

As local job options become more attractive, it appears that Poland's younger generation is beginning to value stability and convenience at home over short-term earnings abroad.