Gender Differences in Departures from a Large Firm

Previous studies have found that although women have higher initial quit rates than men, the quit rates of the two groups converge as time on the job lengthens. This study of personnel records from a large company for the years 1971–80 confirms that finding in an analysis that aggregates observations across all reasons for quits. Disaggregation of the data by reason for quitting, however, reveals marked, systematic differences between men and women. Notably, a higher proportion of women than men left their jobs for non-market-related reasons such as household duties and illness in the family; and women were much more likely than men to name higher wages, and not better opportunities, as a reason for switching jobs. Also, the effects of tenure and education on quit rates differed significantly across both gender and reasons for departure.