At a glance

Wages: Facts and figures

Wages: Facts and figures
  • Global monthly wages adjusted for inflation grew by 1.2 per cent in 2011, down from 3 per cent in 2007 and 2.1 per cent in 2010.
  • Wage growth fell into the red in developed countries but continued to increase in emerging economies.
  • From 2000 to 2011 wages grew by just under a quarter globally, but almost doubled in Asia and nearly tripled in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
  • There are also huge variations in wage levels across countries, with hourly wages for a worker in the manufacturing sector ranging from less than $1.50 to almost $35.
  • Over the past decade, wages have grown at a slower pace than labour productivity in a majority of countries for which data is available.
  • Workers’ share of national income has been shrinking in most countries.
Source: Global Wage Report 2012/13.