Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP8468
Authors: Brindusa Anghel; Sara de la Rica; Juan J. Dolado
Abstract: This paper addresses the role played by Public Sector (PS) employment across different OECD labour markets in explaining: (i) gender differences regarding occupational choices in either PS or private sector, and (ii) subsequent changes in female labour market outcomes. To do so, we provide some empirical evidence about cross-country gender differences in choice of employment in the PS vs. the private sector using the European Community Household Panel (ECHP), in the light of several theories about patterns of gender behaviour in the labour market. We also analyze the main determinants of the hourly wage gaps across these two sectors for males and females separately. Finally, we document the main stylized facts about gender differences in labour market transitions of workers among inactivity, unemployment, working in the PS and working in the private sector.
Keywords: gender gaps; labour market transitions; public sector employment
JEL Codes: J16; J31; J45
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| public sector employment (J45) | women's labor force participation (J21) |
| higher female public sector employment (J45) | higher overall female labor force participation (J21) |
| public sector employment (J45) | variations in wage outcomes (J31) |
| public sector employment (J45) | lower wage differentials for women (J31) |
| characteristics of public sector jobs (J45) | women's choices to work in the public sector (J45) |
| public sector jobs (J45) | better reconciliation of work and family life (J29) |
| public sector jobs (J45) | higher job satisfaction (J28) |