Working Paper: NBER ID: w22248
Authors: Michael Baker; Kirsten Cornelson
Abstract: Research on sex differences in humans documents gender differences in sensory, motor and spatial aptitudes. These aptitudes, as captured by Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) codes, predict the occupational choices of men and women in the directions indicated by this research. We simulate that eliminating selection on these skills reduces the Duncan index of gender based occupational segregation by 20-23 percent in 1970 and 2012. Eliminating selection on DOT variables capturing other accounts of this segregation has a smaller impact.
Keywords: gender occupational segregation; sensory motor aptitudes; spatial aptitudes; labor market
JEL Codes: J16; J24; J62; J71
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| gender differences in sensory motor and spatial aptitudes (J16) | occupational choices (J29) |
| elimination of selection based on aptitudes (C52) | Duncan index of segregation (D30) |
| gender differences in sensory motor and spatial aptitudes (J16) | gender-based occupational segregation (J16) |
| gender differences in skill demands (J21) | gender selection into occupations (J16) |
| occupational characteristics (J28) | occupational choices (J29) |
| math and verbal demands (C89) | occupational choices (J29) |
| physical strength (I14) | occupational choices (J29) |
| occupational risk (J28) | occupational choices (J29) |