The business services sector (BSS) continues to play a significant role in the Polish economy. However, its growth dynamics have slowed, and this year is unlikely to see a return to the investment levels of previous years. According to the Hays 2025 Salary Report for the BSS sector, 79% of companies in the industry plan to recruit, though this does not necessarily mean the creation of new jobs. Labor market experts believe that the commitment to maintaining current employment levels is still a positive sign for the future.
Recruitment and Salary Trends in the Polish BSS Sector
79% of companies in the SSC/BPO sector plan to recruit this year, a decrease of 4 percentage points compared to last year. Additionally, 77% of employers in 2025 plan to grant salary increases, but in only 7% of cases will these exceed 10%. Experts highlight that the challenges facing Poland’s business services sector stem primarily from the ongoing transformation of the market.
Poland, as an investment location, is undergoing changes. The rapid pace of wage growth in recent years has made the market less attractive to investors looking for low costs. At the same time, while Polish talent and expertise in executing demanding projects are recognized internationally, the country has yet to establish a strong global reputation for high productivity. Combined with economic and geopolitical uncertainty, this has led to a slowdown in investment growth within the BSS sector.
Rising Wages Have Reduced the Competitiveness of Poland’s BSS Sector
Poland has been undergoing a transformation for several years. Investors no longer perceive it as a low-cost market, mainly due to rising labor costs. At the same time, it has yet to earn a reputation as a high-end, highly efficient location offering top-tier quality and advanced technological infrastructure. As a result, some investors find it too expensive, while others do not yet see it as the obvious choice for the most advanced investment projects.
“The rapid wage increases in recent years have strained the financial capabilities of companies, which in the near future will aim to balance salary differences at lower and mid-level specialist positions. However, for expert and managerial roles in the BSS industry, we should expect salary stagnation,” comments Aleksandra Tyszkiewicz, CEE Executive Director – Enterprise Solutions at Hays.
Will Employee Salaries Change in 2025?
BSS Sector Companies’ Salary Outlook for 2025:
- 0% – Increase by more than 20%
- 7% – Increase by 10-20%
- 70% – Increase by less than 10%
- 22% – Remain unchanged
- 1% – Decrease
Source: 2025 Salary Report – Business Services, Hays Poland
According to the survey presented in the Hays Poland 2025 Salary Report for the BSS sector, 76% of SSC/BPO companies increased salaries last year. Although a similar 77% plan raises this year, only 7% of companies anticipate increases exceeding 10%.
Fewer Basic Roles, More Expert Positions in Polish SSC/BPO Centers
There are fewer investments in Poland that are heavily focused on cost-cutting. Some companies believe that such projects yield insufficient optimizations in the Polish market. Consequently, the BSS sector has not grown as rapidly as it did a few years ago.
“In the long term, reducing the scale of cost-driven investments is beneficial for Poland. Our business services sector should increasingly focus on high-value-added investments that involve advanced, knowledge-intensive business processes, the creation of R&D centers, and IT hubs. One undeniable asset that can support Poland’s transformation is our human capital—its availability, competencies, and experience,” says Łukasz Grzeszczyk, CEE Executive Director – Talent Location Strategy at Hays.
Investors who have trusted Poland and established shared services centers (SSCs) here often choose to expand their operations by adding production facilities or R&D centers. More frequently, they also relocate positions with international responsibilities to Polish centers, significantly influencing global corporate strategies.
“Although basic positions in the Polish BSS sector are declining, the number of expert roles is continuously increasing. This shift best illustrates Poland’s evolution from a low-cost business support hub for global corporations to a strategic location reserved for specialized tasks,” adds Łukasz Grzeszczyk.
2025 May Bring a Recruitment Revival
Early signs of improvement are emerging. The forecasted economic growth for this year may lead to renewed investment activity. According to the 2025 Salary Report for the business services sector, 79% of industry employers plan to recruit, and 57% expect hiring to be challenging.
Do Companies Plan to Recruit in 2025?
Source: 2025 Salary Report – Business Services, Hays Poland
Although recruitment plans do not always equate to job creation, they do indicate a willingness to maintain existing employment levels. While the sector is unlikely to return to its rapid growth pace from 2-3 years ago, an improvement in conditions appears highly probable.
“Poland remains an attractive location for increasingly advanced business processes. It can effectively attract projects currently carried out in other countries, such as those in Western Europe. The local market still stands out for its wide availability of highly qualified, experienced, multilingual, and highly engaged professionals. Although the wage gap between Poland and Western Europe or the United States is narrowing, the market continues to offer an attractive quality-to-cost ratio,” comments Aleksandra Tyszkiewicz.
About the Report
The Hays Salary Report for the Business Services Sector provides an overview of salary levels across more than 40 positions. It includes insights and expert commentary, as well as labor market survey results conducted at the end of 2024. The full report is available [here].
Source: CEO.com.pl
