Gender Wage Differentials in Information Systems

Abstract

This paper investigates trends and changes in the gender earnings gap for individuals employed in clerical and professional level information systems positions in the U.S. labor market for the period of 1991 through 2008. It examines changes in the earnings gap for IS workers, specifically considering changes relative to the so-called “Internet bubble” observed primarily during the late 1990s. Quantitative analysis of changes in the wage gap, adjusted for key determinants, is based on data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). Examination of these data suggests that the gender earnings gap is persistent despite frequent claims to the contrary from industry surveys and that the gap is narrower for professional level positions. Furthermore, the data suggest that female IS workers, particularly in professional level occupations, may have experienced a beneficial effect from the internet bubble, but it is unclear whether or not that beneficial effect may be fading in the post-bubble internet bust of the early 21st century.

Gender Wage Gap Trends Among Information Science Workers*

“…The patterns we find might reinforce the dissatisfaction that Hunt found with pay and promotion among women and support her contention that discrimination should be a focus of study. The finding of an unexplained gender wage gap in IS should be anticipated (Heywood and Nezlek, ; Nezlek and DeHondt, ) and exists more generally among science and engineering occupations . Yet, the gender differential in science and engineering is virtually absent upon graduation and first job (Morgan, ; Corbett and Hill, ).…”