+9% in automotive, +8.6% in machinery, only +5.7% in trade. The NEI report shows where wages are rising in Poland and how the structure of the labor market is changing.
Wages in the Polish economy continue to rise, but they are becoming increasingly differentiated across industries. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the average wage in the enterprise sector increased year-on-year by 7.46%. In some sectors, however, wage dynamics were significantly higher – in the automotive industry, it approached 9%, in the machinery sector it was 8.6%, and in logistics 8.5%. At the same time, in wholesale trade, wage growth was noticeably lower – 5.7%, and this sector recorded the largest drop in employment in the economy. These conclusions stem from the latest report by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center "NEI – National Employment Index. The main indicator of the state of the labor market in Poland. Q4 2025".
The analysis shows that the Polish labor market is entering a stage of growing sectoral differentiation, both in terms of wage dynamics and changes in the employment structure.
According to calculations by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, based on data from Statistics Poland (GUS), the average wage in the enterprise sector in the fourth quarter of 2025 increased year-on-year by 7.46%, i.e., at a pace almost identical to the previous quarter. This means continued wage pressure on the labor market, although it is no longer as dynamic as in previous years. At the same time, the sectoral analysis indicates that wage dynamics are increasingly diverse 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 in individual sectors of the economy. In industrial and technological sectors, competition for qualified personnel is still very strong, which translates into above-average wage dynamics," comments Evgenij Kirichenko, founder of the Gremi Personal Analytical Center.
Automotive, machinery, and logistics with the highest wage dynamics
The highest rate of wage growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 was recorded in sectors related to industry and logistics. In the automotive industry, wages increased year-on-year by nearly 9%, while in the machinery sector by 8.6%. High wage dynamics were also maintained by logistics, where wages increased by 8.5%. In these industries, there is still a high demand for workers with specialized technical competencies, and at the same time, investments in the development of production and logistics infrastructure are growing.
"In the industrial and logistics sectors, the demand for qualified workers continues to exceed supply. In such industries, wage pressure is a natural consequence of the shortage of specialists and the growing production and investment needs of companies," indicate analysts at the Gremi Personal Analytical Center.
Stable wage growth in consumer sectors
In many traditional industries, the rate of wage growth remains close to the average for the entire economy. In the food industry, wages rose by 7.36% year-on-year, in retail trade by 7.15%, while in construction, wage dynamics were around 7%.
These results indicate a stable wage situation in sectors related to domestic consumption and infrastructure investments, although wage pressure there is no longer as high as in industrial sectors with a high demand for specialists.
Wholesale trade under pressure – a drop in employment and slower wage growth
The lowest rate of wage growth among the analyzed industries was recorded in wholesale trade, where wages increased by 5.7% year-on-year, which is clearly below the average for the whole economy.
At the same time, this sector recorded the largest drop in employment on an annual basis. According to the data analyzed in the report, the number of employees in wholesale trade decreased by about 27,000 people, which means a drop of 5.1%.
"Trade is one of the sectors most sensitive to changes in the economic cycle. The slowdown in sales dynamics and rising operating costs mean that companies in this area are increasingly cautious when making employment decisions," add experts from the Gremi Personal Analytical Center.
The employment structure on the labor market is beginning to change
The NEI report also points to significant changes in the employment structure between individual sectors of the economy. On an annual basis, employment dropped significantly in trade, while an increase in the number of workers was recorded in the food industry, logistics, and the HoReCa sector. In the case of logistics, the number of employed persons increased by about 10,000, i.e., by 5.6% year-on-year, while in the HoReCa sector the increase was about 2,700 people, or 1.6%. In turn, the situation in construction was relatively stable – the drop in employment was only about 0.2%, which indicates the sector's continued resilience to economic fluctuations.
The report draws attention to a significant paradox of the modern labor market. On the one hand, enterprises still point to labor shortages as one of the main constraints to development; on the other hand, the number of companies planning to reduce employment is growing. Most information about planned staff reductions appears in the machinery industry and in the modern business services sector (BPO/SSC).
At the same time, high demand for blue-collar workers persists in many industries, which is largely met by foreign workers employed under the temporary work model.
"The Polish labor market is increasingly feeling the importance of labor migration. In many sectors – especially in logistics, production, or services – without workers from abroad, some enterprises would have serious difficulties maintaining business continuity," emphasizes Evgenij Kirichenko.
According to the analysis by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, in annual terms, employment in the business sector in the fourth quarter of 2025 continued to decline; however, compared to the third quarter, the number of employed persons increased slightly, indicating a stabilization of the situation at the end of the year.
At the same time, at the beginning of 2026, both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons were rising, and enterprises are still taking a cautious approach to planning investments 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, the goal of which is to comprehensively assess the condition of the labor market in Poland and identify key employment trends. The index is created based on the analysis of a wide set of macroeconomic data and labor market statistics, including employment dynamics, wage levels, corporate investment activity, consumption, and business sentiment.
The value of the index is expressed on a scale from 0 to 100 points, where 50 points means the level of labor market equilibrium. Results above this level indicate favorable employment conditions, while lower values signal a deterioration in labor market dynamics or greater caution by companies in employment planning.
The report is published cyclically by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center and is one of the most comprehensive analytical studies regarding the condition of the labor market in Poland.