Occupational gender segregation and economic growth in U.S. local labor markets, 1980 through 2010.
The exchange of diverse ideas has been shown to be a major driver of economic growth and innovation in local labor markets across the U.S. Yet, persistently high levels of occupational gender segregation pose a barrier to such exchange between women and men workers. Consistent with this, organizatio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2020-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227615 |
| _version_ | 1818403578746765312 |
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| author | William J Scarborough |
| author_facet | William J Scarborough |
| author_sort | William J Scarborough |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The exchange of diverse ideas has been shown to be a major driver of economic growth and innovation in local labor markets across the U.S. Yet, persistently high levels of occupational gender segregation pose a barrier to such exchange between women and men workers. Consistent with this, organizational sociologists have identified multiple economic benefits to gender diversity in workplaces. Yet, it is unclear whether these trends apply to local labor markets, which constitute the ecological geographic environment for firms. In this study, I use fixed effects regression models to examine the relationship between labor market levels of segregation and economic growth from 1980 through 2010. I find that gender segregation hinders the expansion of finance and technology sectors as two industries that rely on the exchange of information and innovation. Consequently, higher levels of gender segregation are also a bane to economic productivity, as measured through hourly wages. Results from this study suggest that gender equity, manifested in lower levels of occupational segregation, is a vital ingredient in the economic development of local U.S. labor markets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T08:26:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbbef1fc697f44f1acb803feed9bc545 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T08:26:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbbef1fc697f44f1acb803feed9bc5452022-12-21T23:09:39ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-01151e022761510.1371/journal.pone.0227615Occupational gender segregation and economic growth in U.S. local labor markets, 1980 through 2010.William J ScarboroughThe exchange of diverse ideas has been shown to be a major driver of economic growth and innovation in local labor markets across the U.S. Yet, persistently high levels of occupational gender segregation pose a barrier to such exchange between women and men workers. Consistent with this, organizational sociologists have identified multiple economic benefits to gender diversity in workplaces. Yet, it is unclear whether these trends apply to local labor markets, which constitute the ecological geographic environment for firms. In this study, I use fixed effects regression models to examine the relationship between labor market levels of segregation and economic growth from 1980 through 2010. I find that gender segregation hinders the expansion of finance and technology sectors as two industries that rely on the exchange of information and innovation. Consequently, higher levels of gender segregation are also a bane to economic productivity, as measured through hourly wages. Results from this study suggest that gender equity, manifested in lower levels of occupational segregation, is a vital ingredient in the economic development of local U.S. labor markets.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227615 |
| spellingShingle | William J Scarborough Occupational gender segregation and economic growth in U.S. local labor markets, 1980 through 2010. PLoS ONE |
| title | Occupational gender segregation and economic growth in U.S. local labor markets, 1980 through 2010. |
| title_full | Occupational gender segregation and economic growth in U.S. local labor markets, 1980 through 2010. |
| title_fullStr | Occupational gender segregation and economic growth in U.S. local labor markets, 1980 through 2010. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occupational gender segregation and economic growth in U.S. local labor markets, 1980 through 2010. |
| title_short | Occupational gender segregation and economic growth in U.S. local labor markets, 1980 through 2010. |
| title_sort | occupational gender segregation and economic growth in u s local labor markets 1980 through 2010 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227615 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT williamjscarborough occupationalgendersegregationandeconomicgrowthinuslocallabormarkets1980through2010 |