According to Apec’s annual report, 46% of French executives received a salary increase in 2021. While gender disparities persist, the salary of the youngest workers is rising again after a historic drop in 2020. However, the remuneration has at the same time become a subject of dissatisfaction in this professional category.
A good year for some: 46% of executives received a raise in 2021, an increase of 38% compared to 2020. And this proportion could increase further in 2022, according to the annual barometer of executive compensation published on Thursday by the ‘Association for the employment of executives (Apec) and relayed by AFP.
In 2021, the proportion of senior executives almost equaled that of 2019 (48%). Their median gross annual compensation thus reached 51,000 (against 50,000 in 2020). This level had stagnated between 2018 and 2020. This figure, however, hides strong gender disparities, notes Apec in its report.
Women are still paid less
At the end of 2021, the gross annual remuneration of male executives stood at 54,000, compared to 47,000 for female executives. This 15% difference has been stable for several years. equivalent profile and position, the gap is 7.4% (it has fluctuated between 7 and 8% for many years).
Young executives were 62% to be increased last year. The situation has improved significantly for the youngest executives (under 30): their remuneration had fallen in 2020 for the first time in ten years. In 2021, the situation seems to be back to normal, underlines Apec.
Salary, a growing point of dissatisfaction
For 2022, the proportion of senior executives should reach a historically high level, in an unprecedented context of recruitment pressures and inflation. Questioned in May 2022, 41% of executives indicated that they had already received a raise and 18% expected to receive one by the end of the year. The record level of 51% of augmented executives in 2018 could be exceededprovides Apec.
Despite this, the remuneration became last May one of the main areas of dissatisfaction among executives, especially among those under 35. Dissatisfaction with pay is also increasing among 35-54 year olds but remains stable among the oldest.