+9% in automotive, +8.6% in machinery, only +5.7% in trade. NEI report shows where wages are rising in Poland and how the labor market structure is changing
Wages in the Polish economy continue to rise, but differences between industries are becoming increasingly pronounced. In Q4 2025, the average wage in the enterprise sector grew year-on-year by 7.46%. In some sectors, however, wage growth was significantly higher – in the automotive industry it approached 9%, in the machinery sector it reached 8.6%, and in logistics 8.5%. At the same time, wage growth in wholesale trade was notably lower at 5.7%, and this sector recorded the largest decline in employment in the economy. These are the conclusions of the latest report by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, "NEI – National Employment Index. The main indicator of the labor market situation in Poland. Q4 2025."
The analysis shows that the Polish labor market is entering a stage of growing sectoral divergence, both in terms of wage dynamics and changes in employment structure.
According to calculations by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, based on data from Poland's Central Statistical Office (GUS), the average wage in the enterprise sector in Q4 2025 grew year-on-year by 7.46%, a pace almost identical to the previous quarter. This points to persistent wage pressure in the labor market, although it is no longer as strong as in previous years. At the same time, sectoral analysis shows that wage dynamics are becoming increasingly differentiated and depend on the condition of specific industries.
"The Polish labor market remains stable, but it is becoming increasingly clear that its development is proceeding at different speeds across sectors of the economy. In industrial and technology sectors, competition for skilled talent remains very strong, which translates into above-average wage growth" – comments Evgenij Kirichenko, founder of the Gremi Personal Analytical Center.
Automotive, machinery and logistics show the highest wage growth
The highest rates of wage growth in Q4 2025 were recorded in sectors linked to industry and logistics. In the automotive industry, wages rose year-on-year by nearly 9%, while in the machinery sector they grew by 8.6%. Logistics also maintained strong wage growth, with wages up 8.5%. These industries continue to see high demand for workers with specialized technical skills, while investment in production and logistics infrastructure keeps growing.
"In the industrial and logistics sectors, demand for skilled workers still outstrips supply. In such industries, wage pressure is a natural consequence of the shortage of specialists and the growing production and investment needs of companies" – note analysts at the Gremi Personal Analytical Center.
Stable wage growth in consumer sectors
In many traditional industries, the pace of wage growth remains close to the overall economy's average. In the food industry, wages rose by 7.36% year-on-year, in retail trade by 7.15%, while in construction wage growth stood at around 7%.
These results point to a stable wage situation in sectors linked to domestic consumption and infrastructure investment, although wage pressure there is no longer as high as in industrial sectors with strong demand for specialists.
Wholesale trade under pressure – falling employment and slower wage growth
The lowest wage growth among the analyzed industries was recorded in wholesale trade, where wages rose by 5.7% year-on-year, well below the economy-wide average.
At the same time, this sector recorded the largest year-on-year decline in employment. According to the data analyzed in the report, the number of employees in wholesale trade fell by around 27,000, a decrease of 5.1%.
"Trade is one of the sectors most sensitive to changes in the economic climate. Slowing sales growth and rising operating costs are making companies in this area increasingly cautious about employment decisions" – add experts from the Gremi Personal Analytical Center.
Employment structure in the labor market is starting to change
The NEI report also points to significant changes in the employment structure across the economy's industries. Year-on-year, employment fell markedly in trade, while an increase in the number of employees was recorded in the food industry, logistics and the HoReCa sector. In logistics, the number of employed people grew by around 10,000, or 5.6% year-on-year, while in the HoReCa sector growth amounted to about 2,700 people, or 1.6%. In construction, meanwhile, the situation was relatively stable – employment fell by only about 0.2%, indicating the sector's continued resilience to economic fluctuations.
The report highlights a significant paradox in today's labor market. On one hand, companies still cite labor shortages as one of the main constraints on growth; on the other, a growing number of firms are planning to cut jobs. Most reports of planned staff reductions come from the machinery sector and the modern business services sector (BPO/SSC).
At the same time, many industries continue to see strong demand for manual workers, which is largely met by foreign workers employed under temporary work arrangements. "The Polish labor market is increasingly feeling the importance of labor migration. In many sectors – especially logistics, manufacturing and services – without workers from abroad, some companies would face serious difficulties maintaining business continuity" – emphasizes Evgenij Kirichenko.
According to the analysis by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, year-on-year employment in the business sector in Q4 2025 continued to decline, but compared to Q3 the number of employed people rose slightly, indicating a stabilization of the situation toward the end of the year.
At the same time, at the start of 2026, both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed people rose, and companies remain cautious about planning investment and employment.
The NEI Index – a barometer of labor market health
The National Employment Index (NEI) is a proprietary indicator developed by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the labor market situation in Poland and identify key employment trends. The index is built on an analysis of a broad set of macroeconomic data and labor market statistics, including employment dynamics, wage levels, corporate investment activity, consumption and business sentiment.
The index value is expressed on a scale of 0 to 100 points, where 50 points represents labor market equilibrium. Results above this level indicate a favorable employment climate, while lower values signal a deterioration in labor market dynamics or greater caution among companies in planning employment.
The report is published regularly by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center and is one of the most comprehensive analytical studies of the labor market situation in Poland.