RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
5 September  2022 
(22-6614) Page: 1/10 
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration    
 
 
2020 AND 20 21 ANNUAL REPORT  ON GRADING STRUCTURE   
IN THE WTO SECRETARIAT  
1  INTRODUCTION  
This document provides  an update on staffing and post related statistics  in the WTO Secretariat  
as at 31 December 20 20 and 31 December 20 21. Key information includes  detailed data on the 
composition of WTO staff by grade as well as the  evolution of the grading structure for professional 
and support staff since 1995. Moreover, statistics are also provided on post and staff ing allocation , 
as well as internal staff mobility . 
The report also includes data on staff recruitment as at  31 December 20 20 and 
31 December  2021, including the overall number of positions advertised  through vacancy notice s, 
as well as the number of separ ations  and appointments . Furthermore, d etailed data is included on 
the number of staff promoted by grade through the annual  promotions exercise as well as on a 
competitive basis through vacancy notice s. 
2  UPDATE ON STAFFING AND POST RELATED STATISTICS IN THE SECRETARIAT AS AT  
31 DECEMBER 20 20 AND 2021 
Grading Structure  
2.1.  The WTO grade structure in the professional staff category r anges from grade 6 to g rade 1 0, 
with s upport grades ranging  from grade  1 to grade 7. Director level positions are at grade s 11 
and 12. The policy  of the organization over several years was to increasingly recruit staff at  entry -
level, with  professional staff appointed mainly at grades 6 and 7 . Recruitments have taken place 
above entry -level grades more recently as positions require  additional years of experience , a 
demonstrated need for additional expertise and/or consist of managerial/supervisory 
responsibilities . The number of positions advertised during 2020 and 2021 respectively is shown in 
Tables 2 and 3.  
In terms of the WTO grade structure 20 21, the number of staff in professional positions 
surpasses the number in support positions. As illustrated in Chart 1, 416 staff members ( 63%) are 
in the p rofessional category  (grade  6 to grade 12) , while 246 staff members (3 7%) are in support 
positions  (grade 2 to grade  7). Looking specifically at professional staff, t he highest number  of staff 
members continues to be in  grade  9. For support staff, the highest number  continues to be in 
grade  5. Chart 1 further illustrates a compariso n of the grading structure along with peak periods 
for each grade since 1995. The grade representing the largest decrease at the professional level is 
in grade  10. Looking at the support staff structure in general, the number continues to reduce as 
positions evolve and organizational priorities require more resources at the professional levels.  WT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Chart 1 Grading Structure Comparison for Professional and Support Staff, as at 
31 December 2 1 
 
Chart 2 Grading Structure for Male and Female Staff, as at 31 December 20 21 
 
 
In terms of the grade structure evolution for professional staff since 1995, the percentage of 
staff members at the most senior levels has been steadily de creasing , specifically at grade s 9, 10 
and 12 (Chart 3). Staff members in grade 10 decreased from 21%  of all professional staff  (in 2018) 
to 18% (in 2021), represent ing the lowest percentage since 1999 . Staff members in Grade 12 have 
gradually reduced from 16 to 2 since 2004.  A significant inflow of staff in  grade 6  professional since 
2010 can be clearly observed  and now represent around 12% of all professionals as at 
31 December  2021. The largest increase in professional staff can be observed  in grade 7 (with an 
increase from 2.9% in 1995 to  18% as of 31 December 20 21). 
In the grading  structure evolution for support staff , the trend since 2006 is a steady decrease 
in the  number and percentage of staff . The total headcount decreased to 246 in 2021, the lowest 
number since 199 5. The highest number of staff continues to be at the grade 5 level, representing 
Total Professional (G6P-G12):                  416
Percentage total staff: 63%Total Support (G2-G7S): 246
Percentage total staff: 37%6789101112Professional Staff
234567Support Staff
16
27
118
118
87
78
53
2
20
76
106
87
77
5041
68
98
69
50
11
21
58
87
57
23
Professio nal-Grading Structure
Peak Perio d sin ce 1995Suppo rt-Grading Structure
Peak Perio d sin ce 1995
2345676789101112Support Professional
2345676789101112Support ProfessionalFemale Staff Male Staff
6
26
59
34
43
31
17
46
57
39
11
2
14
50
47
53
32
19
4
12
30
18
12WT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
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  35%. In contrast to the professional grades, the average grade for support staff has increased since 
2015,  from 4.8 7 in 2015 to 4.99 in 2021. 
Chart 3 Grading Structu re Evolution for Professional and Support Staff, from 1995 to 
31 December 20 21 
 
 
Post and Staffing Allocation  
The majority of WTO staffing is financed  by the regular budget of the organiz ation. As illustrated 
in Chart 4, the WTO employs a total of 681 staff, with 9 2% (627 staff) funded from the reg ular 
budget and 8% (54 staff) from extra -budgetary trust funds1. These figures exclude temporary staff 
as well as  interns with the exception of the Young Professionals.  
 
1 Extra -budgetary trust funds are targeted to Technical Assistance Programmes for Members . 
WT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
- 4 - 
 
  Chart 4 Staffing Under Regular Budget and Extra -Budgetary Trust Funds, as at 
31 December 20 21 
 
 
Furthermore, out of a total of 6 27 staff funded from the regular budget, 6 22 are on 
regular/fixed -term contracts  and 5 are on project post cont racts.  
Chart 5 above shows the breakdown of all staff members funded from the regular budget per 
division  as at 31 December 2021 . 
Chart 5 Number of Staff by Contract Type for Divisions U nder Regular Budget, as at 
31 December 20 21 
 
 
10
66
21
13
17
38
29
30
38
32
14
21
91
32
19
2
15
12
36
18
16
49
31
2
1
1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100Accessions Division
Administration and General Services Division
Agriculture and Commodities Division
Council and TNC Division
Development Division
Economic Research and Statistics Division
Human Resources Division
Information and External Relations Division
Information Technology Solutions Division
Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation
Intellectual Property, Government…
Knowledge and Information Management,…
Language and Documentation Services Division
Legal Affairs Division
Market Access Division
Office of Internal Oversight
Office of the Director-General
Office of the DDGs
Rules Division
Trade and Environment Division
Trade in Services and Investment Division
Trade Policies Review Division
WTO Delivery UnitRegular/Fixed-term
Project PostWT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
- 5 - 
 
  
As shown by division in Chart 6 below, out of a total of 54 staff funded from extra -budgetary 
funds, 4 0 are on fixed -term L -Post contracts2, and 1 4 are on Young Professional P rogramme 
contracts.  
Chart 6 Number of Staff by Contrac t Type for Divisions Under Extra-Budgetary Trust 
Funds, as at 31 December 20 21 
 
 
Internal Staff Mobility  
 Internal staff mobility provides an opportunity for staff members within the organization to 
move laterally at the same grade. Chart 7a below shows the number of transfers i n 2021 (38 in 
total), while Chart 7b shows the number of transfers during 2020 and 2021 combined . 
 
2 Posts of limited duration funded from extra -budgetary resources.  
4
9
1
1
11
8
2
2
1
12
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
0 2 4 6 8 10 12Administration and General Services
Division
Agriculture and Commodities Division
Council and TNC Division
Development Division
Economic Research and Statistics Division
Executive Secretariat for the Enhanced
Integrated Framework
Information and External Relations
Division
Institute for Training and Technical
Cooperation
Intellectual Property, Government
Procurement and Competition Division
Market Access Division
Office of the DDGs
Rules Division
Trade and Environment Division
Trade in Services and Investment Division
Trade Policies Review DivisionL-Posts
Young ProfessionalsWT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
- 6 - 
 
  Chart 7 a Internal Staff Mobility by Division, from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 20 21 
 
 
 
Chart 7 b Overall Internal Staff Mobility by Division, 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021  
 
 
 
-1 -1
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-5.8-3.8
-19.6-5-1-2
-9-3-1-0.8
-6233.61.844
12143.819.8
56
377.8
36
0.85
1
-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-202468101214161820
Incoming
OutgoingWT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
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  3  RECRUITMENT ACTIVITY AS AT  31 DECEMBER 2020  AND 20 21 
Positions  Advertised  through Vacancy Notice s 
3.1.  Tables 1 and 2 below  show the number of positions advertised by division and respective grade 
levels in 2020 and 20 21 respectively. In 20 20, a total of 54 vacancy notices were issued  of which 
67% were for professional positions.  In 20 21, a total of 41 vacancy notices were issued  of which 
59% were for professional positions . Table 4 further illustrates the number of positions advertised 
since 2007.  
Table 1 Positions Advertised by Division , from 1 January to 31 December 20 20 
Division  Grade  
3 4 5 6S 7S 6P 7P 8 9 10 11 Total  
Administration and General 
Services   1 3 2    1    7 
Agriculture & Commodities        2  2   4 
Economic Research and Statistics       1 1     2 
Enhanced Integrated Framework 
Executive Secretariat  1     1  2    4 
Human Resources   1  1        2 
Information & External Relations      1 1      2 
Information Technology Solutions         1 1   2 
Institute for Training and 
Technical Cooperation       1 1   1  3 
Knowledge Management, 
Information Management, 
Academic Cooperation and WTO 
Chairs' Programme     2  1      3 
Language and Documentation 
Services   1    2 2 3 1 2  11 
Legal Affairs           1  1 
Rules    2 1   1 3 1   8 
Trade Policies Review   1 1    2 1    5 
Grand Total  1 4 6 6 1 7 9 11 5 4  54 
Table 2 Positions Advertised by Division, from 1 January to 31 December 20 21 
Division  Grade  
3 4 5 6S 7S 6P 7P 8 9 10 11 Total  
Accessions   1          1 
Administration and General 
Services   2 2   
1  1    6 
Administration and General 
Services Division       
   1   1 
Agriculture & Commodities        1  2   3 
Council and TNC       1      1 
Development Division       1      1 
Economic Research and Statistics        1     1 
Human Resources     1  1      2 
Information & External Relations    1         1 
Information Technology Solutions 
Division     1  
1      2 
Institute for Training and 
Technical Cooperation   2 1   
 2 2    7 
Intellectual Property, 
Government Procurement and 
Competition Division       
  1    1 
Knowledge and Information 
Management, Academic Outreach 
and WTO Chairs Programme       
  1    1 
Language and Documentation 
Services    2   
1    1  4 
Language and Documentation 
Services Division    1   
     1 2 
Legal Affairs          1   1 
Market Access       1      1 WT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
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  Division  Grade  
3 4 5 6S 7S 6P 7P 8 9 10 11 Total  
Office of Internal Oversight           1  1 
Rules  1 2          3 
Trade Policies Review       1      1 
Grand Total  1 7 7 2  8 4 5 4 2 1 41 
 
Separations and Appointments  
Table 3 below shows  staff separations since 2007 ra nging from grades 3 through  12. The 
highest number of staff separations from the Secretariat since 20 07 continues to be shown in 
grade  10, totalling 89. This is followed by staff in grade  7, totalling 68. In 20 21, 29 staff members 
separated from the Secretariat.  
Table 3 Staff Separations by Y ear, from 2007 to 31 December 20 21 
Year Grade  
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total  
2007 2 4 2 5 4 2 4 5 - 3 31 
2008 4 3 2 2 2 2 3 7 - 4 29 
2009 2 - 4 4 4 2 1 4 2 - 23 
2010 - 2 - 2 6 - 1 4 - 1 16 
2011 - 2 2 2 5 6 1 3 1 - 22 
2012 - 1 4 2 1 3 1 6 - 3 21 
2013 1 - 4 3 7 3 3 6 3 2 373 
2014 - - 2 4 1 2 3 9 2 1 24 
2015 2 6 5 13 6 3 3 7 1 - 46 
2016 1 3 6 4 7 2 8 7 4 - 42 
2017 2 2 - 2 4 2 4 2 1 2 224 
2018 1 - 4 3 4 2 4 7 1 - 26 
2019 1 - 2 5 3 1 4 12 - - 28 
2020 - 1 3 7 8 1 2 4 - - 275 
2021 - 1 4 2 6 1 4 6 1 - 296 
Total  16 25 44 60 68 32 46 89 16 16 423 
 
Table 4 below shows the number of appointments since 2007. The highest number of staff 
appointments throughout grades 3 to 12 have been at Grade 6 (with 116). In 2021, there were 
35 total appointments, 11 internal and 2 4 external.  
Table 4 Staff Appointments by Yea r, from 2007 to 31 December 20 21 
Year Grade    
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total  Internal  External  
2007 1 8 3 2 12 11 1 1 - - 39 15 24 
2008 6 3 - 1 6 6 3 2 2 - 29 11 18 
2009 1 3 1 4 8 4 1 - 1 - 23 6 17 
2010 4 4 1 9 6 - 1 - 2 - 27 10 17 
2011 4 - 5 15 6 2 2 - 1 - 35 16 19 
2012 2 3 - 7 - 2 1 - 1 - 16 3 13 
2013 4 1 1 10 4 1 1 2 1 1 317 12 19 
2014 4 - 1 10 6 1 2 - 2 - 26 14 12 
2015 3 3 2 12 10 2 4 - 2 - 38 15 23 
2016 5 8 4 8 6 1 1 1 - - 34 15 19 
2017 - 1 4 8 9 2 3 2 3 - 338 12 21 
 
3 Figure includes 1 DG and 4 DDGs.  
4 Figure includes 1 DDG.  
5 Figure includes 1 DG.  
6 Figure includes 4 DDGs.  
7 Figure includes 1 DG and 4 DDGs.  
8 Figure includes 1 DDG, 1 staff member appoi nted to a regular budget post from an L -post contract at 
the same grade, and 1 staff member appointed as Director to Grade 11 on or after 31 March 2017 . WT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
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  Year Grade    
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total  Internal  External  
2018 3 5 2 5 5 3 3 4 - - 309 11 19 
2019 3 2 1 8 8 4 1 1 - - 28 8 20 
2020 2 5 1 8 4 2 3 1 - - 26 10 16 
2021 2 3 - 9 7 2 2 3 1 1 3510 11 24 
Total  44 49 26 116 97 43 29 17 16 2 450 169 281 
4  PROMOTIONS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 20 20 AND 20 21 
Table 5 below shows the number of staff promotions through the annual promotions exercise  
every year since 1996 . Between 2012 and 2015, a freeze was introduced,  and no such promotions 
were awarded.   
In 20 21, the Director -General announced a total of 2 4 performance -based promotions  to be 
allocated throughout grades 4 to 10 for the sixth annual exercise since  the freeze . 
Table 5 Promotions by Grade , from 1996 to 20 21 
Year Grade  
2 to 3  3 to 4 4 to 5  5 to 6  6 to 7  7 to 8  8 to 9  9 to 10  Total  
1996 4 14 4 18 1 1 5 5 52 
1997 5 3 11 5 1 4 14 4 47 
1998 - 12 5 5 2 5 13 4 46 
1999 - 6 12 11 2 11 14 4 60 
2000 - 10 5 6 2 11 7 10 51 
2001 - 8 12 1 7 8 12 10 58 
2002 - 6 7 5 9 5 12 10 54 
2003 2 7 8 9 3 6 10 6 51 
2004 - 3 14 6 6 7 5 10 51 
2005 2 7 6 3 4 10 9 7 48 
2006 - 4 6 9 2 9 13 7 50 
2007 1 6 7 4 6 5 12 5 46 
2008 1 5 7 9 7 6 8 10 53 
2009 1 6 8 4 3 6 13 9 50 
2010 1 3 7 3 3 7 11 6 41 
2011 - 3 4 4 1 4 2 - 18 
2012 - - - - - - - - - 
 
2013 - - - - - - - - - 
 
2014 - - - - - - - - - 
 
2015 - - - - - - - - - 
 
2016 - 7 12 3 10 6 3 2 43 
2017 - 3 5 3 7 3 2 1 24 
2018 2 3 5 3 7 3 2 1 26 
2019 - 2 2 4 6 6 2 1 23 
2020 - 2 2 4 6 6 2 1 23 
2021 - 2 3 4 6 4 2 3 24 
Total  19 122 152 123 101 133 173 116 939 
 
9 Figure includes 2 staff members appointed to regular budget posts from L -post contracts at the same 
grade, and 2 staff members appointed as Director to Grade 11 on or after 31 March 2017 . 
10 Figure includes 1 DG and 4 DDGs.  WT/BFA/W/ 606 
 
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In accordance with Staff Rule 107.2, it is also defined as a promotion when a staff member is 
selected to fill a job at a higher grade for which there has been a vacancy notice and a competitive 
process (see below):  
"A promotion through c ompetition occurs where a staff member who applied for a 
vacant position advertised through a vacancy notice (whether internal or external) is 
selected through a competitive process and appointed to a position at a grade above 
his or her current grade. The  Appointment Board shall make recommendations to the 
Director -General, who shall decide on the appointment to the post."  
Table 6 shows the number of promotions on a competitive basis since 2007. During the freeze 
on promotions from 2012 and 2015, a competi tive selection process was the only avenue for staff 
to obtain  a higher grade. In 20 21, a total of 11 staff members were promoted through a competitive 
recruitment process . 
Table 6 Promotions on a Competitive Basis  by Grade , from 20 07 to 31 December 20 21 
Year Grade  
To 3 To 4 To 5 To 6 To 7 To 8 To 9 To 10  To 11  Total  
2007 - - - - - - - - 1 1 
2008 - - - - - - - - - 0 
2009 - 1 1 - - 1 - - - 3 
2010 - - - 2 - - 3 - - 5 
2011 - - - - - 1 - - 1 2 
2012 - - 1 - 1 1 1 1 2 7 
2013 - - - 1 1 1 3 - - 6 
2014 - - 2 3 3 1 6 1 - 16 
2015 1 3 2 5 7 4 4 - 2 28 
2016 - 1 1 6 2 4 2 4 - 20 
2017 - 1 3 2 2 3 2 3 - 16 
2018 - 3 2 2 1 5 - - - 13 
2019 - 2 3 1 5 4 5 2 - 22 
2020 - 1 3 2 2 5 2 5 - 20 
2021 - 1 1 1 2 3 2 1 - 11 
Total  1 13 19 25 26 33 30 17 6 170 
 
 
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