CEO-worker pay gap continues to grow

CEO pay for major companies in the United States rose nearly 6% in the past year, as income inequality and the outsourcing of good-paying American jobs have increased. According to the new AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch, the average CEO of an S&P 500 Index company made $13.94 million in 2017—361 times more than the average U.S. rank-and-file worker. The AFL-CIO says the average wage -- about $38,613 last year -- has remained stagnant for more than 50 years. "This year’s report provides further proof that the greed of corporate CEOs is driving America’s income inequality crisis," said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, adding that the federation plans to use high exec pay as a campaign issue this year. “When executive pay is out of control and wages for workers aren’t going up, that makes for an angry and energized populace."