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Structural Labour Market Change and Gender Inequality in Earnings

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Matysiak

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Wojciech Hardy

    (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences)

  • Lucas van der Velde

    (bFAME|GRAPE, University of Warsaw, Warsaw School of Economics)

Abstract

Research from the US argues that women will benefit from a structural labour market change as the importance of social tasks increases and that of manual tasks declines. This article contributes to this discussion in three ways: (a) by extending the standard framework of task content of occupations in order to account for diversity of social tasks; (b) by developing measures of occupational task content tailored to the European context; and (c) by testing this argument in 13 European countries. Data are analysed from the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations Database and the European Structure of Earnings Survey. The analysis demonstrates that relative to men the structural labour market change improves earnings potential of women working in low- and middle-skilled occupations but not those in high-skilled occupations. Women are overrepresented in low paid social tasks (e.g. care) and are paid less for analytical tasks than men.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Matysiak & Wojciech Hardy & Lucas van der Velde, 2023. "Structural Labour Market Change and Gender Inequality in Earnings," Working Papers 2023-12, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
    • Handle: RePEc:war:wpaper:2023-12
    as

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    File URL: https://www.wne.uw.edu.pl/download_file/2837/0
    File Function: First version, 2023
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    task content of occupations; care work; wages; gender; Europe;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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