CEO Compensation Surges 54% in 2025, Outpacing Worker Pay Growth
CEO pay soared in 2025, 20 times faster than workers’ pay
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
In 2025, CEO pay increased by 54%, significantly outpacing a 12% decline in global worker pay, according to Oxfam and the International Trade Union Confederation. This disparity highlights rising inequality, particularly in the US, where CEO compensation grew 20.4 times faster than worker wages.
- 01CEO compensation rose by 54% from 2019 to 2025.
- 02Global worker pay decreased by 12%, equivalent to 108 days of unpaid work.
- 03In the US, CEO pay increased 20.4 times faster than worker pay.
- 04The wealth of billionaires surged by $4 trillion in 2026, a 13.2% increase.
- 05A gender pay gap of 16% was identified among top corporations.
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A recent analysis by Oxfam and the International Trade Union Confederation reveals that CEO pay soared by 54% from 2019 to 2025, while global worker compensation declined by 12%, translating to 108 days of unpaid labor. In 2025, the average CEO earned $8.4 million, up from $7.6 million in 2024. The disparity is particularly stark in the United States, where CEO pay increased 20.4 times faster than that of workers. Billionaires, on average, earned $2,500 per second in dividends, highlighting the growing wealth gap. The report also noted a 16% gender pay gap among the top 1,500 corporations surveyed. Calls for action include capping CEO pay, fairly taxing the wealthy, and ensuring minimum wages keep pace with inflation to create a more equitable economy. Luc Triangle, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, criticized the current system as a 'vicious cycle' benefiting mega-corporations at the expense of workers.
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The stark contrast in pay growth underscores the growing economic divide, potentially affecting workers' purchasing power and living standards.
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