Technology in hiring strategy. The NEI report shows what actually influences decisions of Polish companies today
Recruitment is slowing down, and companies are becoming increasingly cautious about expanding their teams. However, the latest edition of the National Employment Index (NEI), prepared by the Gremi Personal Analytical Centre, points to a shift of far greater significance than current fluctuations in the business cycle. For the first time, artificial intelligence and automation have made it into the top five challenges cited by entrepreneurs. This is a signal that technology is starting to be factored in not only in investment strategies, but also in how companies plan the organization of work and future staffing needs.
Discussions about the labour market usually focus on the number of new jobs, wage growth, or the scale of recruitment. Meanwhile, the NEI report data point to a process that isn't visible in employment statistics alone. The way companies make staffing decisions is changing more and more noticeably. Alongside economic factors, the assessment of organizational productivity, availability of competencies, and the impact of new technologies on the business model is playing an increasingly important role.
This does not mean a sudden shift or a revolution in the labour market. It is rather the beginning of a gradual change in priorities which, while visible today mainly in corporate strategies, may increasingly affect the employment structure in the coming years.
A neutral index reading does not mean an absence of change
The National Employment Index reached a level of 50 points in the first quarter of 2026 - a value representing a balance between factors supporting employment growth and those limiting it. However, the result alone does not provide a complete picture of the situation. The data making up the index, and the behaviour of companies observed in recent months, say far more.
The survey shows that 62.5% of companies plan to maintain their current level of employment. 25.7% of businesses report plans to increase staff numbers, while 11.8% expect job cuts. This response pattern does not point to a labour market collapse, but it does confirm that staffing decisions are being made far more cautiously than during a period of strong economic growth and fierce competition for workers.
Technology is not an IT project
One of the most interesting conclusions of the report is the shift in the place technology occupies in corporate strategies. For the first time, artificial intelligence and automation have been included among the five most important business challenges. The report's authors note that some employment optimization processes are increasingly driven not only by macroeconomic conditions, but also by the implementation of new technologies.
This marks a significant shift in interpretation. The report does not indicate that artificial intelligence is becoming a direct cause of job cuts, nor does it suggest a rapid replacement of workers with technological solutions. Instead, it shows that companies are increasingly analysing decisions about work organization in parallel with decisions on technology investment. In practice, this means that workforce planning is becoming part of a broader corporate development strategy.
The way of thinking about organizational growth is changing
For many years, competitive advantage was built primarily through rapidly scaling up operations, hiring workers, and maintaining strong growth momentum. The current economic environment is pushing companies toward a different approach. Greater importance is now placed on resource efficiency, organizational resilience to market volatility, and the ability to adapt business processes.
In this context, the decision to create a new position is increasingly becoming part of a broader analysis that includes not only operational needs, but also opportunities for automation, the use of digital tools, and the development of employee competencies. This does not mean human capital is becoming less important. On the contrary - the value of qualifications that allow people to function in an environment where technology supports an ever-growing number of processes is increasing.
Industry is the first to feel the effects of structural change
The report indicates that the greatest pressure is currently concentrated in industrial sectors, particularly those heavily dependent on exports and energy costs. Employment in the automotive industry fell by 3.4% year-on-year, while the furniture industry saw a 3.2% decline. Analysts stress that these developments are part of broader changes taking place across European industry and should not be interpreted solely as the effect of a short-term economic slowdown.
It is precisely in these industries that investment in automation, robotics, and digital solutions has for years been among the key tools for improving competitiveness. As a result, employment decisions are increasingly linked to a long-term strategy of enterprise modernization.
NEI shows a shift in corporate priorities
The most important signal from the latest edition of the Gremi Personal Analytical Centre's NEI is not a single indicator or a single business decision, but the direction of change visible in how organizations plan their development.
"For the first time, we are seeing a situation in which entrepreneurs have identified artificial intelligence and automation as one of the most important business challenges. And we are not saying that technology is replacing people today. What it shows is that decisions about work organization are increasingly being analysed in parallel with technology investments. Companies no longer plan their growth solely through the lens of headcount. The way competencies are used, process productivity, and an organization's ability to function in a changing economic environment are becoming increasingly important" - emphasizes Tomasz Bogdewicz, CEO of Gremi Personal.
The data from the NEI report do not point to a sudden overhaul of the labour market, but rather present a gradual change in the way companies make decisions. This shift in emphasis could prove to be one of the more significant processes shaping the labour market in the coming years.