Glass Ceiling and Pay Gap: Report on the Financial Condition of Women in Poland

An analysis of the labor market and personal finances on the eve of International Women's Day points to deepening disparities, despite growing social awareness. A report by Hays Poland and data from the boards of WIG20 companies prove that the so-called glass ceiling still effectively limits women's careers in the largest enterprises. Although Polish women are increasingly becoming leaders of technological transformation, which translates into better digitalization results in the SME sector, their representation in the power structures of large companies is growing too slowly. The decline in the share of women in CEO positions is alarming, currently standing at less than a quarter of the total. At the same time, 70 percent of mothers declare they do not plan to have more children, pointing to a lack of systemic support in combining professional and family roles, which is compounded by the phenomenon of the sticky floor. The fight for women's economic equality in Poland has a long tradition; Poland was one of the first countries in the world to grant women voting rights in 1918, right after regaining independence.The financial situation of Polish women is characterized by great caution but also a lack of sufficient safeguards for the future. Data from BIG InfoMonitor indicates that men account for the majority of debt in Poland, while women are a more stable and efficient group in the online loan market. Paradoxically, however, it is women who more often remain without any financial cushion – one in four Polish women has no savings. This results directly from the fact that their wages are statistically lower, which in economic literature is referred to as the pay gap. The sense of injustice in this area is intensifying, and female experts are sounding the alarm, pointing out that without radical systemic reforms, Poland may face a demographic disaster resulting from the fear of economic degradation after having a child. 24,7% — is the share of women among company CEOs In retail, a symbolic end of an era has been noted. After 15 years of presence in Poland, the luxury brand Gucci is closing its only flagship boutique located in Warsaw's Vitkac department store. This decision, although part of the global trends in optimizing the sales network of the Kering group, sparks a discussion about the condition of the premium segment in times of economic uncertainty. While the wealthiest lose access to in-store purchases of luxury goods, the rest of society faces macroeconomic challenges. The Central Statistical Office (GUS) has published new data on earnings, showing huge regional stratification – wage differences between the richest municipalities and regions at risk of exclusion are becoming increasingly visible. Economic challenges for women, from the pay gap to difficulties in saving, are becoming a key topic of public debate in March 2026. The concept of the pay gap (gender pay gap) was popularized in the 1960s in the United States along with the movement for equal pay for equal work.„Wierzę, że ten rok będzie dobry dla polskiej gospodarki, o ile w pełni wykorzystamy potencjał zawodowy kobiet, usuwając szklane sufity.” (I believe this year will be good for the Polish economy, provided we fully utilize the professional potential of women by removing glass ceilings.) — Market expert commenting on the professional potential of women