The Gender Wage Gap and Occupational Segregation in Switzerland, 1991-2001

Publication Type
Journal contribution (peer reviewed)
Authors
Sousa-Poza, A
Year of publication
2004
Published in
Swiss Journal of Sociology
Page (from - to)
399-415
Abstract

This paper analyzes trends in the gender wage gap and occupational segregation in Switzerland in the years 1991 to 2001 with data from the first 11 waves of the Swiss Labor Force Survey. The results reveal that the gender wage gap is converging at a very slow rate and that if this rate remains unchanged it will take another 68 years before the wage gap is eliminated. Unexplained wage differences, i. e. the wage gap still remaining after controlling for differences in human-capital and other endowments, have barely changed in the past years. Occupational segregation has also remained very constant. Based on 3- and 2-digit occupational codes, the Duncan-Duncan segregation index is equal to about 40%. These results suggest that Switzerland still has some way to go before it reaches similar female-to-male earnings ratios as in other industrialized countries. 

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