According to employment agencies, the demand for seasonal employees in 2025 persists at a level similar to last year. Companies are ready to pay more, but they do not increase the number of jobs. The problem is that there is a lack of candidates.
– In 2007, the group aged 18–29 had about seven and a half million people, today it is only four and a half million. This is over a 40 % decrease in less than two decades. And it was the young people who were the core of seasonal employees – in gastronomy, hotel, trade or agriculture – explains Krzysztof Inglot, labor market expert and founder of Personnel Service.
Paweł Sobiegraj, a regional manager at Manpower, adds that the motivation of candidates to undertake only seasonal work is also decreasing because of increase in the minimum wagewhich reduced the distance between seasonal rates and remuneration for permanent work.
– While short -term (several days, weekend) orders still meet with interest, especially among students, difficulties appear when recruiting for a period of two or three months without a guarantee of continuing cooperation – says the expert.
Companies recruit more carefully for seasonal work
Sobiegraj explains that due to staff shortages Some companies consciously limit their seasonality, trying to flatten the scale of production throughout the year. – Stabilization in employment structures is often more profitable today than short -term operational increases.
– Our observations show that companies more often than last year resign from open recruitment for seasonal work. Instead, they reach for employees from the immediate surroundings – family, friends, people on recommendation. High employment costs (salaries, accommodation, transport) make it a cheaper and less risky solution is internal recruitment or through personal relationships – adds Agnieszka Żak, regional director of GI Group.
Where in the summer you earn the most?
According to Personnel Service, the best paid seasonal profession in 2025 is an employee construction. Its rates reach up to PLN 50 net per hour. High salaries (up to PLN 50 per hour) will also receive Water sports instructors and hostessesespecially at the top of the festival season.
People without specialized qualifications also earn well. Electric scooters service technicians receive PLN 25–32.5 net, animators In resorts – PLN 27–31, often with additional benefits, such as accommodation or meals.
In the group of the most sought after employees are found receptionists (PLN 24.5-33.5), employees gastronomy and trade (PLN 24.6–31), warehousemen (up to PLN 32.5) and waiterswho can expect tips in the amount 200 percent their salaries.
High rates are also waiting for nanny. In the summer they earn about 35 PLN net per hour during the day and PLN 50 at night or on weekends. Often with full board and accommodation.
Rates for seasonal work in 2025.
Problems with seasonal work in agriculture
– In 2025 we expect to deepen staffing problems in agriculture – says Alex Kartsel, vice president of EWL Group. – Farmers already have difficulty with a timely harvest of fruit.
As he explains, this is the result of several trends: competition of other industries, the falling availability of candidates and changing preferences of students, who are increasingly choosing less physically burdensome classes in gastronomy or trade.
There are also less and less willing among foreigners. The number of harvesting agreements has dropped from over 15,000. In 2022, up to less than 10,000 In 2024 – even well -organized farms in Poland lose today the fight for an employee with Germany or Scandinavia – sums up Kartsel
Foreigners work less and less often
Although they are still an important group in the economy, foreigners are less likely to choose seasonal employment. – Most often they look for longer work, and treat seasonal orders as temporary – says Paweł Sobiegraj from MANPOWER.
– It is hard to imagine that someone from overseas came to work for two months in agriculture. Seasonal work is usually undertaken by foreigners from the countries neighboring Poland. Ukrainian citizens are still the most numerous group, but the participation of employees from Moldova, Georgia, Uzbekistan is also growing – adds Agnieszka Żak – the distance is one factor, the other are the costs associated with arrival and the long time that they would have to devote to legalization and work legalization processes. On the other hand, foreigners studying in Poland are open to this type of order.
New seasonal profile: white collars and 40+
The profile of people undertaking seasonal work is changing. – People with office experience are increasingly reporting to seasonal work – says Sobiegraj. – They want to earn some extra money and are even open to physical orders.
The participation of people over forty, including teachers, is also growing. – They are looking for flexible and well -paid holiday work – adds Alex Kartsel from EWL Group.
This can also be seen among foreigners. MRPiPS data shows that the most foreign seasonal workers were from 35 to 44 years old, and 1.9 thousand. people were 55 or more.
Working abroad wins at stakes
According to Tomasz Tarabuła, the regional director of GU Group, interest in economic emigration has increased over the last year and returned to the level from two years ago.
Alex Kartsel confirms that despite the growing rates in the country, Poles are still eager to go to seasonal work abroad. -In Germany they can count on 14.50 euros gross per hour, in the Netherlands 13-16 euros gross, and in Denmark up to 120-140 Danish crowns (about PLN 70-80). In Poland, the highest chord rates reach PLN 40-50 gross, although the best can generate over PLN 60 per hour.
A new definition of seasonal work is needed
Experts emphasize that in Poland the list of professions considered seasonal is too narrow. – focuses mainly on agriculture and gastronomy, while in many European Union countries the catalog of industries and works considered seasonal is much wider. It includes Retail trade, logistics centers, transport or summer outdoor events – argues Alex Kartsel.
In his opinion, it is worth considering including work in magazines before Christmas, seasonal production or support of mass events. – Such a step would not only allow to respond better to the needs of the market, but also more effectively regulate gainful migration in a legal and predictable manner – he concludes.
