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Female labour force participation in an era of organizational and technological change

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  • Marina Adshade

Abstract

The supply of skilled female labour increased significantly at the beginning of the twentieth century as women assumed positions in the newly created clerical workforce. Evidence suggests that despite this increase in labour supply, the wage paid to female clerical workers increased over the period and that the ratio of female clerical wages to male manufacturing wages was roughly constant. These labour market facts can be accounted for in a dynamic general equilibrium model in which an exogenous increase in human capital induces an increase in demand for skilled clerical workers. While induced technological change that favours skilled workers may account for the observed increase in female real wages, explaining the stagnate relative weekly wages paid to female clerical workers requires a framework that includes organizational change. L’offre de travail féminin qualifié s’est accrue de manière significative au début du XXe siècle à proportion que les femmes ont occupé des positions dans la main d’œuvre administrative nouvellement créée. Les données suggèrent que malgré cet accroissement dans l’offre de travail, les salaires payés aux travailleuses administratives ont crû au cours de cette période et que le ratio des salaires des femmes dans des tâches administratives par rapport aux salaires des hommes dans le secteur manufacturier est demeuré grosso modo constant. On peut expliquer ces faits stylisés dans un modèle dynamique d’équilibre général dans lequel un accroissement exogène de capital humain suscite un accroissement de la demande de travailleurs qualifiés dans l’administration. Alors que le changement technologique induit qui favorise les travailleurs qualifiés peut expliquer l’accroissement du salaire réel des femmes, l’explication d’une stagnation des salaires relatifs hebdomadaires payés aux femmes dans des tâches administratives réclame un cadre d’analyse qui incorpore des changements organisationnels.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Adshade, 2012. "Female labour force participation in an era of organizational and technological change," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(3), pages 1188-1219, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:45:y:2012:i:3:p:1188-1219
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5982.2012.01731.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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