2024-12-04-国际劳工组织-2024-25年全球工资报告_140页_12mb

Global Wage Report 2024-25: Is wage inequality decreasing globally?

Core Content

The Global Wage Report 2024-25 examines global wage trends and inequality, focusing on the relationship between wage disparities and broader income inequality. It highlights the role of wages in shaping household income distribution and underscores the importance of addressing wage inequality as a key step towards achieving social justice and reducing poverty.

Main Viewpoints

• Wage Inequality Trends:

  • For about two-thirds of countries with available data, wage inequality has declined since the start of the 21st century.
  • However, globally, the 10% least-paid workers receive only 0.5% of the total wage bill, while the 10% best-paid workers receive nearly 38%.
  • Wage inequality remains high, particularly in low-income countries, where it is more pronounced than in high-income countries.

• Real Wage Growth:

  • After negative growth in 2022, global real wage growth rebounded to positive levels in 2023 and the first two quarters of 2024.
  • The global average real wage growth in 2023 was 1.8%, and it increased to 2.7% in 2024.
  • Excluding China, global real wage growth was 1.3% in 2023 and 2.3% in 2024.
  • In advanced G20 economies, real wage growth turned positive in 2024 (0.9%), while emerging G20 economies saw a significant increase (5.9%).

• Regional Variations:

  • Real wage growth was more pronounced in Asia and the Pacific, Central and Western Asia, and Eastern Europe compared to other regions.
  • In 2022, only Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Central and Western Asia saw increases in average real wages, while other regions experienced declines.
  • In 2023, most regions saw positive growth, except for Africa, Northern America, and Northern, Southern, and Western Europe.
  • In 2024, all regions except Africa and the Arab States experienced wage growth, with Central and Western Asia seeing the highest increase (17.9%).

• Minimum Wages:

  • In 2022, 60% of 160 countries adjusted minimum wages, but only 25% saw real increases.
  • In 2023, 55% of countries saw real increases in minimum wages, but the increases were often insufficient to offset previous declines.
  • Minimum wages in 55% of countries increased in real terms, yet 45% of these countries still saw minimum wages fall below inflation, reducing the purchasing power of low-paid workers.

• Labour Income Inequality:

  • Labour income inequality is a significant determinant of overall household income inequality.
  • Non-wage workers (e.g., self-employed, unpaid family workers) are more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries and contribute to higher income inequality when included in the analysis.
  • The report introduces the "Palma ratio" and decile-based inequality measures to assess the distribution of wages and earnings.

• Gender and Informal Economy Disparities:

  • Women are overrepresented at the lower end of the wage distribution, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
  • The gender wage gap is more pronounced at the lower end of the distribution, where women are more likely to be in informal or low-paid sectors.
  • In high-income countries, the gender wage gap is smaller at the top end, where highly educated women may earn higher wages.

• Policy Recommendations:

  • Strengthen wage policies and institutions to reduce inequality.
  • Address the root causes of low pay and formalize the informal economy.
  • Promote gender equality and non-discrimination.
  • Invest in public support for technological innovation and skill development.
  • Enhance cooperation and partnerships to generate political commitments and concrete actions for social justice.

Key Information

• Global wage inequality:

  • Has decreased in two-thirds of countries since 2000.
  • Still remains high globally, with a significant concentration of income at the top.

• Inflation and Wage Growth:

  • Sharp inflation decline in advanced economies contributed to global wage growth.
  • Real wage growth was negative in many countries and subregions, particularly in the wake of the 2021-2022 cost-of-living crisis.

• Labour Market Context:

  • More than half of the global workforce are wage earners.
  • Wages are a critical factor in reducing household inequality and poverty.
  • Non-wage workers, especially women and informal workers, are a major contributor to income inequality.

• Inequality Measures:

  • The report uses several measures, including the Palma ratio, decile ratios (D9/D1, D8/D2, D9/D5, D5/D1), and the share of low-paid workers.
  • These measures help to understand the distribution of income and the disparities between different groups of workers.

• Data and Methodology:

  • The report draws on survey data from 82 countries, representing 76% of global wage workers.
  • It includes data from the Structure of Earnings Survey (SES), Labour Force Survey (LFS), and Eurostat.
  • The findings are based on the latest available data (around 2021).

• Conclusion and Outlook:

  • The report emphasizes the need for policy action to reduce wage inequality and promote fairer societies.
  • It highlights the importance of the ILO Global Coalition on Social Justice in scaling up efforts to address inequality.
  • The outlook for real wage growth is positive, but it remains heterogeneous across regions and countries.

Structure of the Report

• Part I: Recent trends in wages

  • Global and regional wage growth
  • Evolution of real wage indices in G20 economies
  • Trends in minimum wages and their impact on purchasing power

• Part II: Trends in labour income inequality in the 21st century

  • Analysis of wage and non-wage workers
  • Gender and informal economy disparities
  • Labour income inequality in low- and middle-income countries

• Part III: Moving forward

  • Policy considerations and recommendations
  • Future outlook for wage growth and inequality
  • Call for cooperation and action to achieve social justice

Conclusion

The Global Wage Report 2024-25 concludes that while wage inequality has decreased in many countries, it remains a major issue globally. The report stresses the importance of addressing wage disparities through targeted policies and highlights the role of the informal economy and gender gaps in exacerbating inequality. It also calls for stronger international cooperation and the implementation of effective wage policies to support social justice and reduce poverty.