Stemming Inequality? Employment and Pay of Female and Minority Scientists and Engineers in the Federal and Private Sectors

Abstract

Objective. We test whether the increasing tendency of women, blacks, and Latinos to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is decreasing gender and race pay inequality in the federal civil service and the U.S. economy. Method. Using logit analysis on a one percent sample of federal personnel records for college graduates in 1983 and 2003, we examine whether unexplained gender and race pay differences have declined more rapidly for degree-holders in STEM or non-STEM fields. Using logit analysis on a five percent sample of college graduates from the 2000 Census, we examine whether unexplained gender and race pay differences are smaller in STEM or non-STEM fields in the federal and private sectors. Findings. Women and non-Asian minorities earn more, relative to comparable white men, in STEM than in non-STEM fields in both the federal and private sectors. Conclusion. Women and minorities gain even more than white men from studying STEM fields.