We invite you to read the report

Industrial development, changes in the labour market and the growing importance of modern investments are the key topics of the latest“Salary Report in the Industrial Sector 2026” prepared by Grafton Recruitment.

We are pleased to announce that one of the experts invited to contribute to the report was
Wiktor Cichoń – Director of the ARP S.A. Branch in Mielec, EURO-PARK MIELEC Special Economic Zone, who presented an analysis of the investment potential of the Podkarpackie and Lublin regions.

📄 The report is available for download below.

Expert opinion: strong regional position and a changing development model

In his commentary, Wiktor Cichoń emphasises that south‑eastern Poland remains one of the country’s key industrial centres, based on strong sector diversification – from aviation, through metal and machinery industries, to processing and new technologies.

At the same time, a clear qualitative shift in investments can be observed.

Today, the region is undergoing a transformation towards projects that are:

  • more technologically advanced,
  • based on automation and innovation,
  • operating within complex international supply chains.

As the Director of the EURO-PARK MIELEC Special Economic Zone points out:

“We can no longer build competitiveness on low labour costs – the key is to invest in productivity and move higher up the global value chain.”

Data confirming dynamic growth

The data presented in the report confirm the region’s high investment activity:

  • 41 support decisions in 2025
  • almost PLN 1.3 billion of investment value
  • 322 new jobs and more than 7,300 retained positions

A clear year-on-year increase is also visible:

  • +58% more decisions compared to 2024
  • +62% increase in investment value

This confirms that investors are returning to more ambitious projects after a period of geopolitical uncertainty.

The report also points to key directions of change across the entire economy:

  • moderate wage growth (below 3% year-on-year)
  • growing importance of automation and digitalisation
  • shortage of qualified technical staff
  • a stable yet demanding labour market
  • dynamic growth of the defence sector and dual‑use technologies

Poland is strengthening its position as a European investment hub, attracting both foreign capital and increasingly robust investments from domestic companies.

EURO-PARK MIELEC Special Economic Zone – solid foundations and strong prospects

In Wiktor Cichoń’s assessment, the region’s future rests on four key pillars:

  • skilled workforce and academic base,
  • a developed industrial ecosystem,
  • favourable logistics location,
  • strong investment support instruments.

Under the Poland Investment Zone (Polska Strefa Inwestycji), entrepreneurs can benefit from some of the highest support levels in Europe – reaching up to 70% of eligible investment costs.

Prospects for the future

Analyses by the EURO-PARK MIELEC Special Economic Zone indicate that, in the coming years, the greatest potential will lie in investments in the following areas:

  • aviation industry,
  • metal and defence sector,
  • automation and engineering,
  • advanced logistics.

Thanks to its location and growing role in economic relations, the region has the chance to become one of the most important industrial centres in this part of Europe.

➡️Grafton Salary Report in the Industrial Sector