Executive pay soars 54% since 2019 while worker wages stagnate globally
A new report highlights the growing gap between top executives and the global workforce. In 2025, the 1,500 highest-paid corporate leaders earned an average of US$8.4 million—far above the average worker’s income. Meanwhile, poverty reduction has stalled, raising concerns about worsening inequality worldwide. Executive pay has surged in recent years. The average earnings for top executives rose by 11% from 2024 and by 54% since 2019, after adjusting for inflation. This sharp increase contrasts with the stagnant wages of ordinary workers, whose average income in 2025 reached just US$17,156—a mere 0.5% rise from the previous year and 12% lower than in 2019.
The slowdown in poverty reduction has also worsened since 2020. Before then, working poverty fell by 7% annually, but that rate has now dropped to just 3% per year. Oxfam warns that without action, inequality will keep widening. The organisation is urging governments to set clear, time-bound plans with measurable targets and regular progress reviews.
Oxfam’s proposals include higher taxes on the super-rich, stricter lobbying regulations, and tighter controls on political campaign funding by wealthy individuals. The situation could deteriorate further if the Gulf crisis escalates, potentially pushing an additional 32 million people into poverty, according to the UN Development Programme’s worst-case projections. The gap between top earners and the average worker continues to widen. With executive pay rising sharply and poverty reduction slowing, Oxfam’s calls for policy changes aim to curb inequality. Without intervention, economic disparities are likely to deepen further in the coming years.
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