Tuesday, 2 June 2026
Average wages in Slovakia increased at their fastest pace in more than a year during the first quarter of 2026, with real earnings continuing to outpace inflation despite uneven performance across sectors, according to the latest data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.
The average monthly gross wage in the Slovak economy reached EUR 1,611 in the first quarter, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.1%, or approximately EUR 93 per employee. After adjusting for inflation, real wages rose by 2.3%, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of growth in both nominal and real earnings.
Wage growth was recorded in 18 of the 19 monitored sectors of the economy. Mining and quarrying was the only sector to report a decline, with average wages falling by 0.1% year-on-year.
Education recorded the strongest increase, with average wages rising by 14.5% to EUR 1,582 following legislative changes and wage indexation measures. In real terms, wages in the sector increased by 10.4%, the highest among all industries.
After inflation adjustment, employees in 13 sectors experienced higher purchasing power, while six sectors saw real wages decline. The sharpest decreases were recorded in mining and quarrying and in information and communication activities, where wage growth failed to keep pace with inflation.
Industry and trade, which together account for more than one-third of total employment in Slovakia, continued to report positive wage growth. Average wages in industry rose by 6.0% to EUR 1,721, while trade recorded a 4.5% increase to EUR 1,518. Real wage growth reached 2.2% and 0.8% respectively.
Financial and insurance activities remained the highest-paying sector in the economy, with average monthly earnings exceeding EUR 3,000. At the opposite end of the scale, accommodation and food service activities continued to record the lowest wages at EUR 963 per month, remaining the only sector with average earnings below EUR 1,000.
Regional differences also remained significant. The Bratislavský kraj was the only region where wages exceeded the national average, reaching EUR 1,984 per month. The lowest average wage was recorded in Prešovský kraj at EUR 1,306. Nevertheless, all regions reported growth in both nominal and real wages, with Prešovský kraj recording the strongest gains.
Separate monthly data for February showed that wage growth remained broadly positive across most sectors, although employment trends were more mixed. Real wages increased in nine of the ten sectors monitored monthly, while employment declined in six sectors, including industry, retail and wholesale trade. Construction recorded the strongest wage growth, while information and communication remained the weakest-performing sector, with both wage and employment challenges continuing into 2026.
The latest figures suggest that Slovakia’s labour market remains resilient, supported by continued wage growth and low unemployment. However, the divergence between sectors indicates that inflationary pressures and slowing economic activity continue to affect parts of the economy unevenly.
Source: SRSO
