Full Citation

Title: The Evolution of Gender Employment Rate Differentials within Racial Groups in the United States

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2012

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI: 10.1086/667578

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Abstract: This paper analyzes changes in gender employment rate (GER) differentials for whites and blacks in the United States from 1950 to 2008. We document the evolution of the GER gap, which narrows considerably within both racial groups and turns slightly negative for blacks. We document the changing employment levels that drive these patterns as well as compositional shifts in each gender-race population. Among whites, nearly all of the narrowing is attributable to increasing employment rates among women. For blacks, a large component of the narrowing is explained by declining employment rates among men. Black employment rates decline precipitously for the least educated and post-1980 are reduced further by increased institutionalization and declining marriage rates. In an analysis of state-level interdecade changes in female outcomes, we find that a worsening of black male employment prospects is associated with an increase in female education and a decline in marriage and fertility rates.

Url: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/667578

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Authors: Hester, Candace Hamilton; Meyer, Chris; Raphael, Steven

Periodical (Full): The Journal of Legal Studies

Issue: 2

Volume: 41

Pages: 385-418

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Gender, Labor Force and Occupational Structure

Countries: United States