2025-06-15-莱坊-Łódź_city_attractiveness_and_office_market_Q1_2025_8页_1mb

Strong Cities - Łódź

City Attractiveness

• Population: ~652k (6th largest city), City Area: 293.25 sq km.
• Leadership: Top 1% in "Best Mayor", "Best Local Government", and "Innovative Local Government" rankings.
• Economy: GDP Growth: 4.7% (Q1 2025), Unemployment Rate: 4.8% (Feb 2025).
• Quality of Life: Top 2-3% in EU/US quality-of-life rankings. Notable initiatives include Green Bonds, Green Cities awards, tax increases funding environmentally/social programs, expansion of bike infrastructure, green areas (~51.5 sq km), and public transport.
• Investment Support: Extensive incentives: modern office space, personalized investment guides, marketing support, direct city council assistance, employer branding (e.g., "Green Bonds" initiative).
• Recognition: Triple gold prize winner for Local Government Service Poland 2024 ("investor-friendly city").

Office Market

• Existing Stock: ~642,000 sq m (6th largest Polish market, ~5% of national).
• Vacancy Rate: 22.3% (highest in Poland).
• Supply: No new office buildings delivered in Q1 2025; one major project (Fuzja I01, +9,000 sq m) under construction (expected mid-2025).
• Take-Up: Only ~6,000 sq m leased in Q1 2025 (lowest quarterly result in four years), heavily weighted towards new leases and service charge renewals (~61%).
• Sector: IT dominates leased space (~83%).
• Rent Rises: Stable base rent (EUR 9-15/sqm/month), slight increase in service charges (PLN 16-29/sqm/month).

HR Perspective

• Market slowdown impacting sectors heavily dominated by domestic private capital (~75% of revenues).
• Succession planning becoming crucial as >45,000 potential business owners ~75% over 50 face transition challenges.
• Lack of leadership skills and reluctance among successors are key barriers.
• Supply: Tight market conditions may push candidates to seek external hires with specific qualifications.
• Compensation: Top executive base salaries rising (up to PLN 80k/month or more), performance bonuses potentially up to six times monthly salary.
• Over 600 entrepreneurs acknowledge a lack of necessary leadership competencies in their planned successors.

HR Trends

• Average base salary for top executive roles: ~PLN 60k-80k/month.
• Salary base increasing, potentially linked to equity/stock options and performance bonuses (up to six times).
• External recruitment is a growing alternative to succession or business sale/major restructuring.

Contacts & Disclaimer

• Provided contact details for Knight Frank Poland.
• Standard disclaimer regarding report limitations and potential reproduction restrictions.
• Report prepared by Michał Kusy, Dorota Lachowska; graphic design by Karolina Chodak-Brzostowski.