Wages in the Polish economy continue to grow, but differences between sectors are becoming increasingly pronounced. In the fourth quarter of 2025, average wages in the enterprise sector increased by 7.46% year-on-year. However, in some industries, wage growth was significantly higher—approaching 9% in the automotive sector, reaching 8.6% in machinery, and 8.5% in logistics. At the same time, wage growth in wholesale trade was notably lower at 5.7%, and the sector recorded the largest decline in employment across 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 condition in Poland. Q4 2025.
The analysis shows that the Polish labor market is entering a phase of increasing sectoral differentiation, both in terms of wage dynamics and changes in employment structure.
According to calculations by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, based on data from Statistics Poland (GUS), average wages in the enterprise sector in Q4 2025 rose by 7.46% year-on-year—almost identical to the pace recorded in the previous quarter. This indicates that wage pressure in the labor market remains persistent, although it is no longer as dynamic as in previous years. At the same time, sectoral analysis shows that wage growth is becoming increasingly diversified and dependent on the condition of specific industries.
“The Polish labor market remains stable, but it is becoming increasingly clear that its development is progressing at different speeds across sectors. In industrial and technology-related industries, competition for skilled workers remains very strong, translating into above-average wage growth,” said Evgenij Kirichenko, founder of the Gremi Personal Analytical Center.
Automotive, machinery, and logistics lead wage growth
The highest wage growth in Q4 2025 was recorded in sectors linked to industry and logistics.
In the automotive industry, wages rose by nearly 9% year-on-year, while in the machinery sector they increased by 8.6%. Logistics also maintained strong wage growth, with salaries rising by 8.5%. These sectors continue to experience high demand for workers with specialized technical skills, alongside increasing investments in production capacity and logistics infrastructure.
“In industrial and logistics sectors, demand for skilled 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,” analysts from the Gremi Personal Analytical Center note.
Stable wage growth in consumer sectors
In many traditional sectors, wage growth remains close to the average for the overall economy.
In the food industry, wages increased by 7.36% year-on-year, in retail trade by 7.15%, and in construction by around 7%.
These results point to a stable wage environment in sectors linked to domestic consumption and infrastructure investment, although wage pressure is no longer as strong as in industrial sectors with high demand for specialists.
Wholesale trade under pressure: falling employment and slower wage growth
The lowest wage growth among the analyzed sectors was recorded in wholesale trade, where wages rose by 5.7% year-on-year—clearly below the overall economic average.
At the same time, the sector recorded the largest employment decline on an annual basis. According to the report, employment in wholesale trade decreased by approximately 27,000 jobs, representing a 5.1% drop.
“Trade is one of the sectors most sensitive to changes in the economic cycle. Slowing sales dynamics and rising operating costs are causing companies in this area to adopt a more cautious approach to hiring decisions,” the experts add.
Employment structure is beginning to shift
The NEI report also highlights significant changes in employment structure across sectors.
On an annual basis, employment declined noticeably in trade, while increases were recorded in the food industry, logistics, and the HoReCa sector. In logistics, employment rose by around 10,000 people (5.6% year-on-year), while in HoReCa it increased by approximately 2,700 people (1.6%). In construction, the situation remained relatively stable, with employment falling by only about 0.2%, indicating the sector’s resilience to economic fluctuations.
The report also points to a key paradox of the modern labor market. On the one hand, companies continue to cite labor shortages as a major constraint on growth; on the other, the number of firms planning job cuts is increasing. The highest number of planned layoffs is reported in the machinery sector and in modern business services (BPO/SSC).
At the same time, strong demand for manual workers persists in many sectors, 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 foreign workers, some companies would face serious challenges in maintaining operational continuity,” Kirichenko emphasizes.
According to the Gremi Personal Analytical Center, employment in the business sector continued to decline year-on-year in Q4 2025, although compared to Q3 the number of employed people increased slightly, indicating stabilization toward the end of the year.
At the same time, at the beginning of 2026 both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed people increased, while companies remain cautious in planning investments and hiring.
NEI Index – a barometer of the labor market
The National Employment Index (NEI) is a proprietary indicator developed by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center to provide a comprehensive assessment of the condition of Poland’s labor market and to identify key employment trends.
The index is based on the analysis of a broad set of macroeconomic data and labor market statistics, including employment dynamics, wage levels, business investment activity, consumption, and business sentiment.
The index value is expressed on a scale from 0 to 100 points, where 50 represents labor market equilibrium. Values above this level indicate favorable employment conditions, while lower values signal weakening labor market dynamics or increased caution among companies in hiring decisions.
The report is published regularly by the Gremi Personal Analytical Center and is one of the most comprehensive analytical studies of the labor market in Poland.
