How occupational segregation by gender affects female underemployment in Spain

• Published in: Labor history Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 200 - 219
• Main Author: Rodríguez Hernández, José Enrique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Routledge 04-03-2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Employment; female employment; female occupations; Gender; Gender segregation; Higher education; Occupational segregation; occupational segregation by sex; Occupations; part-time work; Private sector; Probability; Public sector; Seniority; Sexual division of labor; Underemployment; Wages & salaries
• ISSN: 0023-656X; 1469-9702
• DOI: 10.1080/0023656X.2023.2183186

This paper provides empirical evidence on the effect that occupational segregation by gender (excessive or insufficient representation of women/men in certain occupations) has on the probability of employment and underemployment of women in Spain in 2008 and 2018. The results seem to contradict the findings of previous studies and show that in female-dominated occupations, there is a greater risk of underemployment only for wage earners in the private sector, but not for wage earners in the public sector. In this type of occupation, seniority, working in the private sector and living with an employed partner with higher education are the factors that have the greatest influence on the probability of underemployment.