In H1 2026, salaries increased most actively in Agronomy and Engineering. Among companies that revised pay in these functions, most reported increases of 10–20%. Overall, 81% of agribusiness companies have already increased employee salaries, while another 13% plan to review them by the end of the year.

These findings come from an Agrohub study covering 16 agricultural holdings with a combined land bank of 2.2 million hectares and a total workforce of approximately 68,500–77,000 employees.

Agronomy: Salary Growth and Increasing Specialization

In Agronomy, 85% of companies that revised salaries increased them by 10–20%.

At the same time, the study points to changes in the structure of this function. Companies are developing agronomic monitoring, precision agriculture, and R&D, leading to a growing number of specialized functions and roles.

Agronomy continues to face staff shortages, although they are less severe than in Engineering and among blue-collar occupations. At the same time, the development of digital tools enables agronomists to manage larger areas more efficiently and access information on field conditions faster.

Engineering: Salaries Rise Amid Competition for Talent

In Engineering, 85% of companies that provided data for this function increased salaries during H1 2026. The most common increase was up to 15%, reported by 31% of companies. Another 15% increased salaries by up to 20%, while 15% raised them by more than 20%.

Staffing challenges are more pronounced in Engineering than in Agronomy and Land Management. Some companies describe the shortage as significant, and engineers are among the specialists in shortest supply in the labor market. Recruiting blue-collar workers is particularly challenging. As a result, pay for the same positions can vary considerably between companies, with differences reaching around 20% in some cases.

The age structure of the workforce adds to the challenge. Employees under 25 account for only 5% of Engineering staff, while 18% are aged 55–65. Another 5% are over 65. There are currently not enough young specialists to gradually replace experienced employees as they leave the workforce.

Against this backdrop, companies are beginning to develop their own talent pipelines. In 2026, Agrohub recorded interns in Engineering functions for the first time. At the same time, the development of precision agriculture is creating demand for new skills, including engineers who work with GPS equipment and monitoring systems.

Land Management: More Moderate Salary Increases

In Land Management, 77% of companies increased salaries during H1 2026. Salary increases of up to 10%, up to 15%, and up to 20% were each reported by 23% of companies, while another 8% raised salaries by up to 5%. Salaries remained unchanged at 23% of companies.

Pay levels in this function are influenced, among other factors, by employees’ workload and the scope of their responsibilities.

Overall, the study indicates a shift toward a more targeted approach to payroll management. Companies are increasingly taking into account how their salary levels compare with the market, staffing conditions in specific functions, and their own financial capacity.

The Agrohub study “Changes in the Agricultural Sector in H1 2026” covered 16 agricultural holdings with a combined land bank of 2.2 million hectares. The participating companies employ approximately 68,500–77,000 people in total.