Fewer Poles take up seasonal work abroad despite higher pay

The share of Poles choosing seasonal employment abroad has fallen in recent years, with just 11 percent working outside the country this summer, according to the August edition of the Polish Labour Market Barometer by Personnel Service. While higher wages remain the primary motivation, the gap between domestic and foreign earnings has narrowed, reducing the appeal of such trips.

Survey results show that 69 percent of respondents did not consider seasonal work abroad this year, while 21 percent initially planned to leave but ultimately stayed in Poland. Among those who did go abroad, 3 percent did so for the first time, 6 percent worked irregularly, and only 2 percent make it a regular part of their employment calendar.

Demographic differences are evident. Women more often reported no interest in working abroad compared with men (72 percent versus 66 percent). Younger workers expressed more openness: one-third of respondents aged 18–24 considered seasonal employment abroad but decided against it, compared with only 8 percent in the 55+ group. Seasonal migration is also more common in cities than in rural areas, where about one in ten residents reported working abroad, compared with one in fourteen in the countryside.

Higher pay is still the main driver, with 37 percent of respondents citing it as their reason for considering work abroad. This factor is particularly strong among older workers, with half of those aged 55+ indicating salary as the key incentive. By contrast, younger people are more likely to cite specific financial goals, such as repaying a loan or buying a car. Other reasons include limited career prospects or low local wages, mentioned by a quarter of respondents, and especially prevalent among those with lower levels of education.

Krzysztof Inglot, labour market expert and founder of Personnel Service, noted that younger workers today can often achieve similar earnings in Poland, thanks to exemptions from personal income tax for those under 26 and a minimum gross hourly wage of PLN 30.5. “Older workers are guided more by simple calculations—the higher pay abroad still matters. Younger people usually take irregular trips tied to specific goals, and with better opportunities at home, more of them are choosing to stay,” Inglot said.