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The Dynamics of the Gender Earnings Gap for College Educated Workers: The Child Earnings Penalty, Job Mobility, and Field of Study

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  • Aedin Doris

    (Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting, Maynooth University.)

  • Donal O'Neill

    (Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting, Maynooth University.)

  • Olive Sweetman

    (Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting, Maynooth University.)

Abstract

TThis paper uses a rich set of administrative data to examine the dynamics of the gender earnings gap for college graduates from 2010-2020 in Ireland. We focus on the dynamics of the gap in the first 10 years of the working career, what this looks like, what determines it and what can explain the patterns. We examine the extent to which changes in job mobility after childbirth can explain the dynamics of the gender earnings gap across fields of study. Our findings suggest that the fact that men experience much higher earnings gains than women, particularly within jobs, is the key driver behind the observed earnings divergence. This is particularly evident among women who have studied Business or Law in University. Changes in job mobility after childbirth are not a major contributor to the divergence in earnings but analysis of household survey data suggests that reductions in hours of work following childbirth explains approximately 60% of the initial decline in female weekly earnings and much of the male-female earnings gap in the years after childbirth.

Suggested Citation

  • Aedin Doris & Donal O'Neill & Olive Sweetman, 2022. "The Dynamics of the Gender Earnings Gap for College Educated Workers: The Child Earnings Penalty, Job Mobility, and Field of Study," Economics Department Working Paper Series n315-22.pdf, Department of Economics, National University of Ireland - Maynooth.
    • Handle: RePEc:may:mayecw:n315-22.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henrik Kleven & Camille Landais & Jakob Egholt Søgaard, 2019. "Children and Gender Inequality: Evidence from Denmark," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(4), pages 181-209, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Delaney, Judith M. & Devereux, Paul J., 2024. "Gender Differences in Graduate Degree Choices," IZA Discussion Papers 16918, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Doorley, Karina & Tuda, Dora & Duggan, Luke, 2023. "Will Childcare Subsidies Increase the Labour Supply of Mothers in Ireland?," IZA Discussion Papers 16178, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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