At the end of 2024, about 1.499 million Polish citizens were temporarily staying outside Poland, and that number was 22,000 higher than a year earlier. Most of them were living in Europe, where demand for technical and construction workers remains strong.

The clearest pull is coming from jobs tied to automation and modern production. Krzysztof Inglot said there is a growing importance of occupations linked to automation and new manufacturing, adding that CNC and industrial robot operators, along with specialists running automated production lines, are among the most sought-after workers in Europe. He said that reflects both the transformation of industry and a shortage of young people entering technical trades.

The numbers help explain why. In Scandinavian countries, welders can earn from 4,000 to 5,500 euros gross a month, while CNC and industrial robot operators receive 3,500 to 4,800 euros gross and sandblasters 3,000 to 4,000 euros. In Germany, welders can expect 3,500 to 4,800 euros gross monthly, CNC operators 3,500 to 4,500 euros, and sandblasters 3,200 to 4,000 euros.

Czech pay is lower, but still significant by regional standards. Welders there can earn from 1,800 to 2,800 euros gross a month, CNC and industrial robot operators up to 2,600 euros, and sandblasters up to 2,400 euros. The same pattern appears in construction, where skilled workers such as bricklayers and plasterers can earn 3,500 to 5,500 euros gross in Norway and Sweden, while those without experience can reach 3,200 to 4,000 euros.

Germany also remains a major market for builders from Poland. Skilled construction workers there usually receive 2,800 to 4,000 euros gross a month, while unskilled workers can count on 2,400 to 2,800 euros. In Czechia, experienced construction workers earn 1,900 to 2,500 euros gross, and people starting out in the sector receive 1,500 to 1,900 euros.

The gap between starting pay and experienced pay is still wide. Those entering work without experience usually receive wages that are lower by several percent, and sometimes by several tens of percent, which keeps experienced Polish workers attractive to employers trying to fill gaps quickly. For now, the message from the labor market is clear: Europe still wants Polish hands, especially where machines, steel and construction sites need people who can do the job on day one.