Thursday, 12 March 2026
The average monthly wage in Slovakia increased year-on-year in most monitored sectors at the start of 2026, although employment trends varied across the economy, according to preliminary data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.
In January 2026, nominal wages rose in eight of the ten sectors tracked through the monthly survey. The pace of growth differed across industries, ranging from a 2.1 percent decline in the sale and repair of motor vehicles to a 6.6 percent increase in food and beverage service activities.
After adjusting for inflation, real wages increased in six of the monitored sectors. The strongest real growth was recorded in food and beverage services, where purchasing power rose by 2.5 percent year-on-year. However, four sectors saw declines in real wages. The largest decrease occurred in the sale and repair of motor vehicles, where real wages fell by 5.9 percent. Other sectors recording a decline in purchasing power included information and communication (-4 percent), accommodation (-2.3 percent), and wholesale trade (-1.4 percent).
Employment trends were mixed during the same period. The number of employed persons increased year-on-year in six of the ten monitored sectors. Accommodation recorded the strongest growth, with employment rising by 8.8 percent.
At the same time, employment declined in four sectors. Wholesale trade saw the largest reduction, with a 3.8 percent drop compared with January 2025. Smaller declines were also recorded in retail trade, transportation and storage, and industry, where employment decreased by up to 2.1 percent.
The figures are based on monthly surveys covering ten key sectors, including industry, construction, transport and storage, information and communication, and selected market services, as well as segments of internal trade such as retail, wholesale, accommodation, and food services. These monthly results provide an early indication of wage and employment trends, while the country’s official average wage figures are calculated on a quarterly basis using data from a broader set of nineteen economic sectors.
Source: SOSR
