lemonde.fr
French Salary Gap Widens Between Paris Region and Rest of Country
A new Deloitte study reveals that the salary gap between the Île-de-France region and the rest of France, which had been narrowing since 2020, has widened to 5.6% in 2025, with significant disparities across regions.
- How significant is the regional disparity in salaries across France, and which regions are most affected?
- The salary gap between Île-de-France and other regions has widened to 5.6% in 2025. Regions like Bretagne, Aquitaine, Bourgogne, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and Pays de la Loire show significantly lower average salaries, ranging from 6.7% to 7.3% less than Île-de-France.
- What is the overall trend in salary increases in France in 2025, and how does it compare to previous years?
- In 2025, salary increase budgets have decreased to around 2%, compared to 4% during periods of high inflation. This is considered a return to pre-crisis normalcy by Deloitte, with base salaries showing this trend. The increase is above inflation despite geopolitical uncertainties.
- What factors contribute to the widening regional salary gap in France, and what are the potential implications?
- While the article mentions increased individualization of salaries and efforts to reduce gender pay gaps, it highlights the widening regional disparity as a key finding. The continued concentration of high-paying jobs in Île-de-France and differences in cost of living, particularly housing, are likely contributing factors. This disparity may exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities across regions.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article presents a balanced overview of salary trends in France, highlighting both the increasing disparity between Île-de-France and other regions and the return to pre-crisis salary increase levels. The inclusion of diverse data sources (Deloitte, WTW, LHH, Expectra) strengthens the objectivity. However, the anecdote from Reddit about individual perceptions of 'good' salaries might subtly skew the reader's understanding towards a focus on Île-de-France disparities, potentially overshadowing the broader national context.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective, employing precise figures and quotes from experts. The term "normalité" (normality) could be considered slightly subjective, but it's used in the context of a post-crisis return to pre-inflationary salary adjustment patterns, making it relatively unbiased.
Bias by Omission
While the article covers various regions and salary brackets, it could benefit from including data on specific sectors or professions, offering a more nuanced picture of regional salary discrepancies. Additionally, the article focuses primarily on base salaries, neglecting potential differences in benefits and bonuses, limiting the depth of its analysis. The impact of inflation on real wages is mentioned briefly but could be further explored.
Gender Bias
The article explicitly mentions the efforts of companies to reduce the gender pay gap and notes some success. This demonstrates an awareness of gender inequality in compensation. However, it does not offer specific data on the current gender pay gap, limiting a thorough analysis of gender bias in salaries.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a widening pay gap between Ile-de-France and other regions in France, indicating a negative impact on SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), which aims to reduce inequality within and among countries. The 5.6% increase in the pay gap in 2025 directly contradicts the goal of reducing income inequality. The data also shows significant pay disparities between regions, with some regions lagging considerably behind Ile-de-France.