Wages in Georgia’s retail sector have increased by around 15–20% compared with previous years, while pay for lower-level positions in the HoReCa sector has risen by approximately 20%, according to HR.ge Business Development Director Inga Shakhbaziani.
She said intense competition for workers has prompted retail companies, particularly chain stores, to increasingly disclose salaries in job advertisements and offer additional benefits such as meals, days off and insurance. The trend of listing salaries in retail vacancies became more active about two years ago, with increases of around 10% initially and 15–20% this year.
Labor shortages have also pushed up wages in HoReCa, particularly for housekeepers, cleaners, bartenders and waiters. Shakhbaziani said companies are increasingly highlighting higher pay in job advertisements to attract candidates and fill vacancies.
However, HR.ge data shows that salaries are still disclosed in only about 33% of job postings, making direct comparisons with official wage statistics difficult. Geostat reported that average monthly nominal wages rose 8% year-on-year in Q2 2026 to GEL 2,389, while the average real wage after income tax stood at GEL 1,911.
