---
title: "Poland's Labor Market Restructures: Defense and Logistics Grow, Automotive and Light Industry Cut Jobs"
description: "In Poland, labor demand is shifting towards defense manufacturing, electronics, and logistics, while the automotive and light industries are cutting staff. Employers are restraining wage growth amid inflation accelerating to 4.1%."
date: 2026-11-11T06:14:51.942Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/poland-labor-market-defense-automotive-cuts
tags: [poland, labor-market, defense-industry, auto-industry, wages, inflation, ukrainian-workers]
author: "Darya Fomina"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Poland's Labor Market Restructures: Defense and Logistics Grow, Automotive and Light Industry Cut Jobs

![Worker in safety glasses and workwear assembling truck components at a factory](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/11/polsha-rynok-truda-oboronnaya-promyshlennost-avtoprom-sokraschenie/polsha-rynok-truda-oboronnaya-promyshlennost-avtoprom-sokraschenie-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Employment in transport equipment manufacturing (including military equipment) grew by 2.8% to 60.3k people, and in electronics by 3.9%
- The automotive industry cut staff by 3.3% to 194.7k, light industry by 5.5%, and furniture manufacturing by 6.3%
- The average salary in the business sector was PLN 9,345 gross (+6.1% y/y), while inflation accelerated to 4.1%
- The share of companies planning wage increases dropped from 28.1% to 25.7%; no mass staff expansion is expected by the end of the year

In the third quarter of 2026, Poland's labor market is undergoing a pronounced structural restructuring: labor demand is concentrating in specific sectors, while others continue to downsize their staff. The Gremi Personal analytical center, relying on data from the National Bank of Poland (NBP), the Central Statistical Office (GUS), and industry monitoring, recorded that employment is growing most dynamically in the production of transport equipment, industrial machinery, and electronics. At the same time, the automotive industry, light industry, and furniture manufacturing are losing workers. Employers are covering part of the personnel deficit with foreign specialists, a significant share of whom are Ukrainians, but companies' overall approach to personnel costs remains restrained.

### Defense and Infrastructure Momentum

The leader in employment growth among industrial sectors was the production of transport equipment: in the third quarter of 2026, the number of workers in the sector increased by 2.8% year-on-year to 60,300 people. This block includes enterprises manufacturing military equipment, railway rolling stock, ships, and aviation equipment. Gremi Personal analysts attribute the additional momentum to government orders and investments in defense and infrastructure. In parallel, the number of employees in the production of industrial, infrastructural, and specialized equipment increased by 2.4% to 126,000 people, while in the computer, consumer electronics, and optical equipment segment, growth reached 3.9%.

### Sectors Where Staff is Shrinking

At the opposite pole is furniture manufacturing, where employment decreased by 6.3% year-on-year to 75,000 workers. Light industry lost 5.5% of its personnel down to 136,300 people, and the automotive industry dropped by 3.3% to 194,700. Analysts cite falling sales of passenger cars and intensified competition from Chinese home appliance manufacturers among the reasons. Overall, average monthly employment in the manufacturing industry in the third quarter decreased by 1.2% year-on-year—by 29,000 people. Nevertheless, demand for workers remains in the services sector: retail trade added 0.7%, the hotel and restaurant business (HoReCa) grew by 1.4%, and logistics also demonstrates steady demand for personnel.

### Wages Grow Slower Than Inflation

Despite employment growth in certain sectors, Polish employers are in no hurry to increase remuneration. According to an NBP survey, the share of enterprises planning to raise wages in the next quarter decreased from 28.1% in the second quarter to 25.7% in the third. The average salary in the business sector in the third quarter amounted to PLN 9,345 gross, which is 6.1% (PLN 537) higher than a year earlier. Meanwhile, annual inflation in September accelerated to 4.1% compared to 2.1% in February. The gap between price growth and wage dynamics forces companies to tightly control the payroll budget and focus on retaining key specialists rather than mass increases.

### Forecast: Stabilization Without Mass Hiring

According to Gremi Personal's assessment, until the end of 2026, overall employment in Poland will continue to stabilize, but analysts do not expect mass staff expansions. Labor demand will continue to be unevenly distributed among industries: defense and infrastructure sectors, logistics, and services will continue to attract personnel, while traditional manufacturing industries focused on the consumer market will maintain a downward trend. For foreign workers, including Ukrainians, this means that employment opportunities remain, but are increasingly concentrated in specific sectors and regions experiencing labor shortages.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Работа в Польше: в каких отраслях растет спрос на работников, а где сокращают персонал](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/robota-polshchi-kih-galuzyah-zrostae-popit-1794222866.html) - Gremi Personal data based on NBP and GUS: sector employment Q3 2026, average wage PLN 9,345, inflation 4.1%, share planning wage increases 25.7%. Figures are internally consistent.

## FAQ

### Which Polish industries experienced employment growth in the third quarter of 2026?

The highest growth was recorded in computer and electronics manufacturing (+3.9%), transport equipment including military gear (+2.8%), industrial equipment (+2.4%), as well as retail trade (+0.7%) and HoReCa (+1.4%).

### Which industries are cutting personnel?

The largest cuts occurred in furniture manufacturing (−6.3%), light industry (−5.5%), and the automotive sector (−3.3%). Overall processing industry employment decreased by 1.2%.

### What is the average salary in Poland and how does it relate to inflation?

The average salary in the business sector in Q3 2026 was PLN 9,345 gross (+6.1% year-on-year). Annual inflation in September accelerated to 4.1%, which is lower than the wage growth rate, though employers are restraining further increases.

### Do analysts expect mass hiring in Poland until the end of 2026?

No. Gremi Personal forecasts stabilization of overall employment without mass staff expansion. Labor demand will be unevenly distributed across sectors.