CEO pay soared in 2025, 20 times faster than workers’ pay

Analysis finds real wages fell 12% since 2019, with inequality widening in the US beyond global levels

CEO pay increased 20 times faster than worker pay around the world in 2025, according to a new analysis from Oxfam and the International Trade Union Confederation, the world’s largest trade union federation.

When adjusted for inflation, global worker pay declined 12% between 2019 and 2025, the equivalent of 108 days of free work during that time period. In comparison, CEO compensation increased by 54% between 2019 and 2025.