+9% in automotive, +8.6% in machinery, only +5.7% in trade. NEI report reveals where wages are rising in Poland and how the labor market structure is changing.
Wages in the Polish economy continue to grow, but they are increasingly diverging between industries. In Q4 2025, the average salary in the enterprise sector rose 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, in wholesale trade wage growth was noticeably lower – 5.7% – and this sector recorded the largest decline in employment in the economy. These findings come from 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 the Central Statistical Office (GUS), the average salary in the enterprise sector in Q4 2025 rose 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, depending 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 individual 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 post the highest wage growth
The highest wage growth rates in Q4 2025 were recorded in sectors related to industry and logistics. In the automotive industry, wages rose year-on-year by nearly 9%, while in the machinery sector by 8.6%. Logistics also maintained strong wage growth, with wages rising by 8.5%. These industries continue to face high demand for workers with specialized technical skills, while investment in production development and logistics infrastructure keeps growing.
"In industrial and logistics sectors, demand for skilled workers still exceeds supply. In such industries, wage pressure is a natural consequence of the shortage of specialists and companies' growing production and investment needs" – note analysts at the Gremi Personal Analytical Center.
Stable wage growth in consumer sectors
In many traditional industries, 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 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, clearly below the average for the entire economy.
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 decreased by approximately 27,000 people, representing a 5.1% decline.
"Trade is one of the sectors most sensitive to changes in economic conditions. Slowing sales growth and rising operating costs mean that companies in this area are becoming increasingly cautious about employment decisions" – add experts from the Gremi Personal Analytical Center.
Employment structure in 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. Year-on-year, employment declined noticeably 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 persons increased by approximately 10,000 people, or 5.6% year-on-year, while in the HoReCa sector the increase was about 2,700 people, or 1.6%. In construction, meanwhile, the situation was relatively stable – employment declined by only about 0.2%, indicating the sector's continued resilience to economic fluctuations.
The report highlights a significant paradox of 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 companies are planning staff reductions. Most reports of planned workforce reductions come from the machinery industry and the modern business services sector (BPO/SSC).
At the same time, many industries continue to see high demand for manual laborers, 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, on a year-on-year basis employment in the business sector continued to decline in Q4 2025, but compared to Q3 the number of employed persons rose slightly, indicating a stabilization of the situation towards the end of the year.
At the same time, at the beginning of 2026 both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed people rose, and companies remain cautious about planning investments and employment.
The NEI Index – a barometer of labor market conditions
The National Employment Index (NEI) is a proprietary indicator developed by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, aimed at providing a comprehensive assessment of labor market conditions in Poland and identifying key employment trends. The index is built on the 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 from 0 to 100 points, with 50 points representing labor market equilibrium. Results above this level indicate favorable employment conditions, while lower values signal a deterioration in labor market dynamics or greater caution among companies in employment planning.
The report is published periodically by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center and is one of the most comprehensive analytical studies on the condition of the labor market in Poland.