Thursday, 13 November 2025
Average wages rose year-on-year across all ten monitored sectors of the Slovak economy in September 2025, according to new data from the Statistical Office. Construction and food and beverage services recorded the fastest nominal increases at 9.8%, while industry, retail, transport and storage, and ICT also posted rises above 7%. Selected market services grew the slowest, up 1.4%.
After accounting for inflation, real wages increased in seven sectors. The strongest gains—above 5%—were in food and beverage services and construction. Wholesale, retail, industry, transport and ICT saw moderate real increases, while selected market services, vehicle sales and repair, and accommodation registered real wage declines of up to 2.8%.
For the first nine months of 2025, all sectors reported higher nominal wages, and nine recorded real wage growth. Selected market services remained the only segment where real pay fell, down 1.6% year-on-year.
Employment trends were more mixed. In September, headcounts fell in six sectors, led by wholesale with a 3.1% drop. Smaller declines were recorded in retail, selected market services, construction, transport and storage, and industry. By contrast, employment grew by 4.3% in motor vehicle sales and repair, and also increased in gastronomy, ICT and accommodation services.
From January to September, employment rose in five monitored sectors, with accommodation showing the fastest expansion at 2.1%. Wholesale and transport and storage posted the largest cumulative declines, each approaching 2% year-on-year.
