Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/34818 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 3562
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We use HILDA data from 2001 - 2006 to analyse the source of the gender wage gap across public- and private-sector wage distributions in Australia. We are particularly interested in the role of gender segregation within sector-specific occupations in explaining relative wages. We find that, irrespective of labour market sector, the gender wage gap among low-paid, Australian workers is more than explained by differences in wage-related characteristics. The gender wage gap among high-wage workers, however, is largely unexplained in both sectors suggesting that glass ceilings (rather than sticky floors) may be prevalent. Gender differences in employment across occupations advantage (rather than disadvantage) all women except those in high-paid, private-sector jobs, while disparity in labour market experience plays a much more important role in explaining relative private-sector wages. Finally, disparity in educational qualifications and demographic characteristics are generally unimportant in explaining the gender wage gap.
Subjects: 
Gender wage gap
occupational segregation
private and public sector employment
JEL: 
J31
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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