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Decomposing the barriers to equal pay: examining differential predictors of the gender pay gap by socio-economic group

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  • Vanessa Gash
  • Wendy Olsen
  • Sook Kim
  • Nadine Zwiener-Collins

Abstract

Our article examines different predictors of the gender pay gap at the mean and for different income groups. Using the United Kingdom Household Panel Survey (UKHLS), we provide a detailed analysis of the effects of individual work histories, with up to 40 years of retrospective data examined alongside other key indicators. Work histories provide a powerful means of measuring the long-term effects of reduced labour force attachment on pay for women and for men. We find that gendered differentials in work-history account for 29% of the gender pay gap at the mean and that the effects of women’s reduced attachment vary by income group. We find men to earn a higher wage penalty to part-time work-histories than women, and find no evidence of a penalty to part-time work more generally in poor households. We conclude that gender equalisation policies need to reflect divergent needs by income group.

Suggested Citation

  • Vanessa Gash & Wendy Olsen & Sook Kim & Nadine Zwiener-Collins, 2025. "Decomposing the barriers to equal pay: examining differential predictors of the gender pay gap by socio-economic group," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 49(4), pages 825-848.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cambje:v:49:y:2025:i:4:p:825-848.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cje/beaf025
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