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The Occupational Feminization of Wages

Author

Listed:
  • John T. Addison

    (University of South Carolina, University of Coimbra, and GEMF)

  • Orgul D. Ozturk

    (University of South Carolina)

  • Si Wang

    (Hunan University)

Abstract

This paper updates the major study by Macpherson and Hirsch (1995) of the effect of the gender composition of occupations on female (and male) earnings. Using large representative national samples of employees from the Current Population Survey, cross-sectional estimates of the impact of proportion female in an occupation (or feminization) on wages are first provided, paying close attention to the role of occupational characteristics. Specification differences in the effects of feminization across alternative subsamples are examined, as well as the contribution of the feminization argument to the explanation of the gender wage gap. An updated longitudinal analysis using the CPS data is also provided. This examination of two-year panels of individuals is supplemented using information from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth which has the advantage of offering a longer panel. Analysis of the former suggests the reduction in gender composition effects observed for females in cross section with the addition of controls for occupational characteristics becomes complete after accounting for unobserved individual heterogeneity. This is not the case for the latter dataset, most likely reflecting heritage effects of discrimination in what is an aging cohort.

Suggested Citation

  • John T. Addison & Orgul D. Ozturk & Si Wang, 2015. "The Occupational Feminization of Wages," GEMF Working Papers 2015-12, GEMF, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra.
    • Handle: RePEc:gmf:wpaper:2015-12
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Barry T. Hirsch & Edward J. Schumacher, 2012. "Underpaid or Overpaid? Wage Analysis for Nurses Using Job and Worker Attributes," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 78(4), pages 1096-1119, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Addison, John T. & Chen, Liwen & Ozturk, Orgul Demet, 2017. "Occupational Match Quality and Gender over Two Cohorts," IZA Discussion Papers 11114, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. John T. Addison & Liwen Chen & Orgul D. Ozturk, 2020. "Occupational Skill Mismatch: Differences by Gender and Cohort," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 73(3), pages 730-767, May.
    3. Aleida Cobas-Valdés & Javier Fernández-Macho, 2021. "Gender Dissimilarities in Human Capital Transferability of Cuban Immigrants in the US: A Clustering Quantile Regression Coefficients Approach with Consideration of Implications for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Harris, Jorgen, 2022. "Do wages fall when women enter an occupation?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. David L. Schaffer & Joseph M. Westenberg, 2019. "Time Flexibility, Women’s Wages, and the Gender Wage Gap," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 47(2), pages 217-239, June.
    6. Landmesser Joanna & Rusek Marian & Zajkowska Olga, 2021. "A Comparative Analysis of Men and Women’s Hourly Earnings in Poland with Particular Emphasis on the Education Sector," Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia, Sciendo, vol. 21(1), pages 18-30, June.
    7. André Cieplinski, 2018. "Supervision and Work Content: Industry level evidence," Department of Economics University of Siena 776, Department of Economics, University of Siena.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    occupational segregation; gender wage gap.;

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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