Poles Are More Aware and Selective About Seasonal Work Abroad, Experts Say
Translated from Polish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
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- Experts say short-term seasonal work abroad no longer offers the same economic advantage for all Polish workers as it once did.
- Higher costs for living, transport and accommodation mean workers increasingly compare the final earnings with what they could make in Poland.
- Workers with specific skills or those willing to stay longer may benefit most, while experience, language learning and contract stability also influence decisions.
Seasonal work abroad remains attractive to Polish workers, but the traditional model of leaving for a few weeks or months to maximize earnings from simple seasonal jobs is losing its economic advantage.
The difference between wages in Poland and abroad is narrowing, while the costs of transport, accommodation, living and staying abroad are rising. Paweล Dฤ browski of Grupa Progres said the strongest earning opportunities now tend to go to people willing to remain abroad longer or those with specific skills.
We can see a shift from the model of โIโm going for a few weeks and coming backโ toward a more conscious professional and financial decision.
โWe can see a shift from the model of โIโm going for a few weeks and coming backโ toward a more conscious professional and financial decision,โ Dฤ browski told PulsHR. Piotr Olechowski of LeasingTeam Group said workers now calculate much more carefully whether a foreign job is worthwhile.
โIf, after deducting the costs of living abroad, the difference compared with what they can earn in Poland is several hundred euros, they often decide it is not worth leaving their family and going abroad,โ Olechowski said. He summarized the current situation by saying that Poles still want to work abroad, but are much more aware and selective than in the past.
If, after deducting the costs of living abroad, the difference compared with what they can earn in Poland is several hundred euros, they often decide it is not worth leaving their family and going abroad.
Money remains the main motivation, experts said, but it is no longer the only one. Workers also consider the chance to gain experience, learn a language, meet a specific financial goal, secure stable employment or extend their contracts.
The article cites the example of Agata Witoล, who picked strawberries in Germany for 33 days without a day off. She worked an average of nine to 10 hours a day, completing 310 hours at a gross hourly rate of 13.90 euros. After travel and living costs, she had 3,633 euros, or about 15,336 zlotys. Her earnings prompted strong discussion among Polish internet users.
Poles still want to work abroad, but are much more aware and selective than in the past.
About this summary
Originally published by Rzeczpospolita in Polish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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