RESTRICTED  
  
WT/BFA/W/395  
 
10 June 2016  
(16-3152)  Page: 1/11  
Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration    
 
 2015 ANNUAL REPORT ON GRADING STRUCTURE AND PROMOTIONS IN THE WTO 
SECRETARIAT 
 
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.  This document presents an update on staffing and post related statistics in the WTO Secretariat 
as of 31 December 2015. Key information covered 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 staffing allocation, as well as internal staff mobility.  
2.  The report also includes data on staff recruitment as of 31 December 2015, including the 
overall number of positions advertised through vacancy notice, as well as the number of 
separations and appointments. Furthermore, detailed data is included on promotions through the annual promotions exercise from 1996 to 2011, as well as on a competitive basis since 2007 .  
2  UPDATE ON STAFFING AND POST RELATED STATISTICS IN THE SECRETARIAT AS OF 
31 DECEMBER 2015 
2.1  Grading Structure  
3.  The WTO grade structure in the professional staff category ranges from grade 6 to grade 10, 
with support grades ranging from grade 1 to grad e 7. Director level positions are at grades 11 
and 12. Over the last few years, the policy of the organization has been to increasingly recruit staff at entry-level, with professional staff appointe d mainly at grades 6 and 7. Recruitment may be 
above entry-level grades when (1) a position requ ires additional years of experience; and where 
(2) there is a demonstrated need for additional  expertise or a managerial/supervisory role.  
4.  In terms of the WTO grade structure as of  31 December 2015, the number in professional 
positions continues to surpass the number of staff in support positions. As illustrated in Chart 1, 
404 staff members (60%) are in the professional category (grade 6 to grade 12), while 272 staff members (40%) are in support positions (grade 2 to  grade 7). Looking specifically at professional 
staff and the inclusion of all grades at this level, the highest number of staff members continues to 
be in grade 9. For support staff, the highest numbe r of staff members continues to be in grade 5. WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Chart 1 Grading Structure for Professional and Support Staff, as of 31 December 2015 
12
1110
9
876Professional  Staff
4
19
88
118
61
61
53
7
6
5
432Support Staff
Total Professional  (G6P‐G12): 404
Percentage  total staff: 60%Total Support (G2‐G7S): 272
Percentage  total staff: 40%
27
56
88
58
41
2
 
 
5.  In terms of the grade structure evolution fo r professional staff since 1995, the percentage of 
staff members in more senior positions has been steadily decreasing, specifically in 
grades 8 and 10 (Chart 2). Staff members in grade 10 now represent 22% of all professional staff, 
the lowest percentage since 1999 (see Annex 1). At the same time, a significant inflow of staff in grade 6 professional since 2010 can be clearly observed. While grade 6 professionals consistently 
represented 1% or less of total professional staff until 2010, there are now 53 staff in this 
category as of December 2015, representing 13% of professional staff. In comparison to 2014, the biggest increase in professional staff can be seen in grade 7 (now representing 15% from 12% in 
the previous year). The staffing data set out in Annex 1 further illustrates how the average grade 
of professional staff, in part driv en by this increase in entry-level professional staff recruited in the 
Secretariat, has gradually decreased since 2008 and is now at its lowest level (from 9.24 in 1995 
to 8.50 in 2015). A growth of 5% amongst professional staff can be observed, due to retirements 
taken in the support staff category and the organizational need to reallocate the position to a professional role. 
6.  In the grade structure evolution for support staff since 1995, the trend since 2006 represents a 
decreasing number of staff in support positions. The highest number of staff continues to be shown 
at the grade 5 level, representing 32% of all support staff. In contrast to the professional grades, the average grade for support staff has increased from 4.76 in 1995 to 4.87 in 2015, as illustrated 
in Annex 2. 
Chart 2 Grading Structure Evolution for Prof essional and Support Staff, from 1995 to 
31 December 2015 
 
  
0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%
1995
199920002001
2002
200320042005200620072008
2009
20102011201220132014201512
11
10
9
8
7P
6P
020406080100120140
1995
19992000
2001
20022003
2004
20052006
2007
20082009
2010
20112012
2013
2014201512
11
10
9
8
7P
6P
 Professional  Grades, 
by number of staff Professional  Grades, 
by percentage  WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 3 - 
 
   
  
020406080100120
1995
1999
200020012002
2003
20042005
2006
20072008
2009
201020112012
2013
201420157S
6S
5
4
3
2
0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%
1995
1999
2000
20012002
2003
20042005
2006
20072008
2009
201020112012
2013
201420157S
6S
5
4
3
2
 
 
2.2  Post and Staffing Allocation  
7.  The majority of WTO staffing is financed by the regular budget of the organization. As 
illustrated in Chart 3, the WTO employs a total of 713 staff1, with 95% (676 staff) funded from the 
regular budget and 5% (37 staff) from extra-budgetary trust funds2.  
Chart 3 Staffing Under Regular Budget an d Extra-Budgetary Trust Funds, as of 
31 December 2015 
Of the 676 staff on the regular 
budget:
645 are on regular/fixed ‐
term  contracts
4 are on project‐based 
contracts
27 are on short‐term 
contracts
Of the 37 staff on extra budgetary  
funding:
36 are on fixed‐term 
contracts
1 is on a short‐term 
contract
37
676Extra 
Budgetary
5%
Regular 
Budget
95%
 
 
 
8.  Furthermore, out of a total of 676 staff on the regular budget, 645 are on fixed-term/regular 
contracts, 4 are on project-based contracts for disp ute settlement lawyers (hired to assist with the 
high increase in dispute settlement cases) and 27 are on short-term contracts. The staffing figures 
outlined above represents 95% of overall WTO staff as of 31 December 2015. 
                                               
1 DG, 4 DDGs not included in figure 
2 Extra-budgetary trust funds are targeted to Technical Assistance Programmes for Members. Support Grades,  
by number of staff Support Grades,  
by percentage  WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 4 - 
 
  Chart 4 Number of Staff by Contract Type for Divisions under Regular Budget, as of 
31 December 2015 
10
68
19
20
14
21
39
24
31
43
35
16
125
28
17
2
14
9
25
1
12
19
531
2
11
2
3
1
1
2
5
2
1
4
2
1
2
0 2 04 06 08 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 4 0Accessions
Administration  and General Services
Agriculture  and Commodities
Appellate  Body Secretariat
Council and TNC
Development
Economic  Research  and Statistics
Human Resources
Information  and External Relations
Information  Technology  Solutions
Institute for Training and Technical  Cooperation
Intellectual  Property,  Govn. Procurement  & Comp.
Languages,  Documentation  and Information  Management
Legal Affairs
Market Access
Office of Internal Oversight
Office of the Director‐General
Offices of the DDGs
Rules
Staff Counsellor
Trade and Environment
Trade in Services & Investment
Trade Policies Review
Regular/Fixed ‐term
Project‐Based
Short‐term
 
 
9.   Chart 4 above illustrates the breakdown of all staff members funded from the regular budget 
per division. Although the highest number of staff can be shown in LDIMD (Languages, 
Documentation, and Information Management) with 125 regular/fixed-term staff, the number of staff continues to decrease, further decreasing from 2014 (by 1%). Furthermore, the biggest 
percentage growth in the number of staff can be observed in Rules, Legal Affairs, and Appellate 
Body Secretariat (.7%, .7%, .4%, respectively). 
10.  As shown by division in Chart 5 below, 37 staff members are funded from extra-budgetary 
funds in which 36 are on fixed-term L-Post contracts
3 and 1 is on a short-term contract. This 
represents 5% of overall WTO staff as of 31 December 2015. 
Chart 5 Number of Staff by Contract Type for Divisions under Extra-Budgetary Trust 
Funds, as of 31 December 2015 
371122821
1
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14Administration  and General ServicesAgriculture  and CommoditiesEconomic  Research  and StatisticsExecutive  Secretariat  for the Enhanced  Integrated  FrameworkInformation  Technology  SolutionsInstitute for Training and Technical  CooperationIntellectual  PropertyMarket Access
Fixed‐term
Short‐term
 
 
  
                                               
3 Posts of limited duration fund ed from extra-budgetary resources WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 5 - 
 
  2.3  Internal Staff Mobility 
11.  As illustrated in Chart 6 below, 21 inter-divisional staff movements were made from 
1 January to 31 December 2015. 
Chart 6 Internal Staff Mobility by Divisi on, from 1 January to 31 December 2015 
‐5‐4‐3‐2‐101234567
Incoming
Outgoing
 
 
3  RECRUITMENT AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2015 
3.1  Positions Advertised through Vacancy Notice 
12.  From 1 January to 31 December 2015, a total of 62 vacancy notices were released. In three 
of these vacancy notices, more than one position was advertised, thereby bringing the total number of positions advertised to 65. Of these, 42 were for professional positions, of which 23 
were advertised at grades 6 and 7. This represents 56% of professional posts advertised, 
excluding the director position advertised at grade 11. Table 1 below shows the number of positions advertised by division and the respective grade levels. Table 2 further illustrates the 
number of positions advertised since 2007.  
Table 1 Positions Advertised by Division , from 1 January to 31 December 2015 
Division 3 4 5 6S 7S 6P 7P 8 9 10 11 Total  
Appellate Body Secretariat   1 1   1  1 1  5 
Admin. & General Services 2 1 3 1   2    1 10 
C o u n c i l  &  T N C       1       1  
Development       1     1 
Office of the Director-General  1          1 
Economic Res. & Statistics      2  1 2   5 
H u m a n  R e s o u r c e s    2          2  
Inf. & External Relations      1  1    2 
I n f .  T e c h n o l o g y  S o l u t i o n s       1       1  
Institute for Training & Tech Coop.  2 2   3  1  1  9 
Legal Affairs  1  1        2 
Languages, Doc, & Inf. Mgmt. 1 1 2   2 4 2 3   15 
M a r k e t  A c c e s s         1     1  
Office of Internal Oversight          2  2 
Rules       1 1 1   3 
Trade and Environment    1        1 
T r a d e  P o l i c i e s  R e v i e w        2      2  WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 6 - 
 
  Division 3 4 5 6S 7S 6P 7P 8 9 10 11 Total  
Trade in Serv. & Investment      1 1     2 
Total 3 6 10 4 - 11 12 7 7 4 1 65 
 
Table 2 Positions Advertised, from 2007 to 2015 
Year Grade 
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total 
2007 5 4 3 1 8 10 5 2 2 - 40 
2008 1 2 - 2 8 4 1 - 1 - 19 
2009 5 3 6 3 8 7 1 - 2 - 35 
2010 1 2 3 18 5 2 4 - 1 - 36 
2011 3 2 2 13 2 4 3 - 2 - 31 
2012 3 2 1 6 - 2 2 1 2 - 19 
2013 5 1 1 11 13 3 3 1 3 - 41 
2014 1 5 4 13 13 3 10 - 4 - 53 
2015 3 6 10 15 12 7 7 4 1 - 65 
Total 27 27 30 82 69 42 36 8 18 - 339 
 
3.2  Separations and Appointments 
13.  Table 3 below shows staff separations since 2007 ranging from grades 3 through 12. The 
highest number of staff separations from the Secretariat since 2007 can be observed in the grade 10 category, totalling 51. This is followed by staff in grade 6, totalling 37. In 2015, there 
were a total of 46 separations. From 1 January to 31 December 2015, 72% of all separations were 
due to retirements, while resignations and end of contacts account for the remaining number of departures.  
Table 3 Staff Separations by Year, from 2007 to 31 December 2015 
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 2 374 
2014 - - 2 4 1 2 3 9 2 1 24 
2015 2 6 5 13 6 3 3 7 1 - 46 
Total 11 18 25 37 36 23 20 51 9 14 249 
  
14.  In regards to fixed-term/regular staff appointments since 2007, a total of 70 staff members 
have been appointed for grade 6 positions, the highest number of staff appointments throughout 
grades 3 through 12 (Table 4). It is worth nothing that in 2015, 14 staff members were appointed 
through a competitive process to the legal divisions (Rules, Legal Affairs, and Appellate Body Secretariat) with 11 Dispute Settlement Layers, two Paralegals, and one Technical Trade Specialist. With the 38 total appointments in 2015, two staff members have since resigned. 
Table 4 Staff Appointments by Year, from 2007 to 31 December 2015 
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 
                                               
4 Figure includes 1 DG and 4 DDGs WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 7 - 
 
  Year Grade   
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total Internal External  
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 31 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 
Total 29 25 14 70 58 29 16 5 12 1 264 102 162 
 
4  PROMOTIONS AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2015 15.  Table 5 below shows the number of staff promotions through the annual promotions exercise. 
With the current freeze introduced in 2012, there have been no such promotions since 2011. The 
annual budget for post re-gradings
5 was approximately CHF 217,000 per annum. 
16.  In accordance with Staff Rule 107.1 (d), 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 (see 
below):  
"A promotion on a competitive basis shall occur when a staff member is selected to fill a job at a 
higher grade for which there has been a vacancy notice. The Director-General may issue a vacancy 
notice in respect of a job reclassified at a higher grade." 
17.  Shown in Table 6 is the number of promotions that haven taken place on a competitive basis 
since 2007. Since the introduction of the freeze on promotions, a competitive selection process has been the only avenue for staff to attain a higher grade. 
Table 5 Promotions by Grade, from 1996 to 2015 
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-
2015 - - - - - - - - - 
Total 17 103 123 102 59 105 160 107 776 
 
                                               
5 The number of post re-gradings were increased from 25 to 5% of regular posts in 2007 
(WT/BFA/SPEC/171). WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 8 - 
 
  Table 6 Promotions on a Competitive Basis by Grade, from 2007 to 31 December 2015 
Year  Grade 
2 to 
3 3 to 
4 4 to 
5 4 to 
6 5 to 
6 5 to 
7 6 to 
7 7 to 
8 8 to 
9 9 to 
10 10 to 
11 Total 
2007 - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 
2008 - - - - - - - - - - - - 
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 1 2 - 3 1 6 1 - 16 
2015 1 3 2 1 4 1 6 4 4 - 2 28 
Total 1 4 6 2 9 1 11 9 17 2 6 68 
 WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 9 - 
 
  LIST OF ANNEXES 
Annex 1: WTO Grade Structure Evolution, Professional Staff by Grade (1995-2015) Annex 2: WTO Grade Structure Evolution, Support Staff by Grade (1995-2015) 
_______________ 
 
  
 
   WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 10 - 
 
  ANNEX 1 
WTO GRADE STRUCTURE EVOLUTION, PROFESSIONAL STAFF BY GRADE 
(1995-2015) 
  12/D2 11/D1 10/P5 9/P4 8/P3 7P/P2 6P TOTAL Avg. Gr Growth 
31/12/1995 6 16 43 59 42 5 0 171 9.24   
%-age 3.5% 9.4% 25.1% 34.5% 24.6% 2.9% 0.0% 100%     
31/12/1999 7 27 53 79 54 34 1 255 9.01 49% 
%-age 2.7% 10.6% 20.8% 31.0% 21.2% 13.3% 0.4% 100%     
31/12/2000 12 22 65 76 61 31 1 268 9.07 5% 
%-age 4.5% 8.2% 24.3% 28.4% 22.8% 11.6% 0.4% 100%     
31/12/2001 11 22 75 79 65 30 3 285 9.06 6% 
%-age 3.9% 7.7% 26.3% 27.7% 22.8% 10.5% 1.1% 100%     
31/12/2002 13 19 90 82 74 41 1 320 9.03 12% 
%-age 4% 6% 28% 26% 23% 13% 0% 100%     
31/12/2003 11 19 89 91 72 38 3 323 9.01 1% 
%-age 3% 6% 28% 28% 22% 12% 1% 100%     
31/12/2004 16 12 98 85 79 50 5 345 8.93 7% 
%-age 5% 3% 28% 25% 23% 14% 1% 100%     
31/12/2005 14 12 100 89 82 40 3 340 8.99 -1% 
%-age 4% 4% 29% 26% 24% 12% 1% 100%     
31/12/2006 13 12 108 92 77 35 4 341 9.04 0% 
%-age 4% 4% 32% 27% 23% 10% 1% 100%     
31/12/2007 12 12 107 97 81 41 3 353 8.99 4% 
%-age 3% 3% 30% 27% 23% 12% 1% 100%     
31/12/2008 9 16 113 95 84 40 1 358 9.01 1% 
%-age 3% 4% 32% 27% 23% 11% 0% 100%     
31/12/2009 8 15 115 97 81 42 5 363 8.97 1% 
%-age 2% 4% 32% 27% 22% 12% 1% 100%     
31/12/2010 9 15 118 104 75 38 15 374 8.94 3% 
%-age 2% 4% 32% 28% 20% 10% 4% 100%     
31/12/2011 9 16 114 107 75 38 28 387 8.84 3% 
%-age 2% 4% 29.5% 28% 19% 10% 7% 100%     
31/12/2012 6 19 106 107 72 39 32 381 8.78 -2% 
%-age 2% 5% 28% 28% 19% 10% 8% 100%     
31/12/2013 5 17 102 110 69 40 39 382 8.70 0% 
%-age 1% 4% 27% 29% 18% 10% 10% 100%     
31/12/2014 4 16 97 114 62 48 45 386 8.61 1% 
%-age 1% 4% 25% 30% 16% 12% 12% 100%   
31/12/2015 4 19 88 118 61 61 53 404 8.50 5% 
%-age 1% 5% 22% 29% 15% 15% 13% 100%     WT/BFA/W/395 
 
- 11 - 
 
  ANNEX 2 
WTO GRADE STRUCTURE EVOLUTION, SUPPORT STAFF BY GRADE 
(1995-2015) 
  7G 6G 5 4 3 2 1 TOTAL Avg. Gr Growth 
31/12/1995 26 43 63 72 36 3 0 243 4.76   
%-age 10.7% 17.7% 25.9% 29.6% 14.8% 1.2% 0.0% 100%     
31/12/1999 19 59 56 66 48 6 0 254 4.67 5% 
%-age 7.5% 23.2% 22.0% 26.0% 18.9% 2.4% 0.0% 100%     
31/12/2000 23 62 58 68 44 8 0 263 4.73 4% 
%-age 8.7% 23.6% 22.1% 25.9% 16.7% 3.0% 0.0% 100%     
31/12/2001 26 54 71 63 44 11 0 269 4.71 2% 
%-age 9.7% 20.1% 26.4% 23.4% 16.4% 4.1% 0.0% 100%     
31/12/2002 32 50 76 59 44 6 0 267 4.81 -1% 
%-age 12% 19% 28% 22% 16% 2% 0% 100%     
31/12/2003 34 59 77 58 40 5 0 273 4.90 2% 
%-age 12% 22% 28% 21% 15% 2% 0% 100%     
31/12/2004 36 58 86 49 45 7 0 281 4.89 3% 
%-age 13% 21% 31% 17% 16% 2% 0% 100%     
31/12/2005 36 57 91 48 37 5 0 274 4.97 -2% 
%-age 13% 21% 33% 18% 14% 2% 0% 100%     
31/12/2006 36 68 87 62 50 7 0 310 4.86 13% 
%-age 12% 22% 28% 20% 16% 2% 0% 100%     
31/12/2007 37 64 90 69 42 6 0 308 4.89 -1% 
%-age 12% 21% 29% 22% 14% 2% 0% 100%     
31/12/2008 41 65 88 65 39 5 0 303 4.96 -2% 
%-age 14% 21% 29% 21% 13% 2% 0% 100%     
31/12/2009 39 64 92 66 29 4 0 294 5.02 -3% 
%-age 13% 22% 31% 22% 10% 1% 0% 100%     
31/12/2010 41 61 96 64 31 3 0 296 5.03 1% 
%-age 14% 21% 32% 22% 10% 1% 0% 100%     
31/12/2011 37 64 98 60 32 3 0 294 5.02 -1% 
%-age 13% 22% 33% 20% 11% 1% 0% 100%     
31/12/2012 35 64 96 61 34 3 0 293 4.99 0% 
%-age 12% 22% 33% 21% 12% 1% 0% 100%     
31/12/2013 31 62 92 62 37 3 0 287 4.93 -2% 
%-age 11% 22% 32% 22% 13% 1% 0% 100%     
31/12/2014 29 63 90 59 41 3 0 285 4.90 -1% 
%-age 10% 22% 32% 21% 14% 1% 0% 100%     
31/12/2015 27 56 88 58 41 2 0 272 4.87 -5% 
%-age 10% 21% 32% 21% 15% 1% 0% 100%     
 
 
__________