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Government Employment and Black-White Earnings Inequality, 1980-1990

NCJ Number
150019
Journal
Social Problems Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: (August 1994) Pages: 363-382
Author(s)
J F Zipp
Date Published
1994
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This analysis of data from the 1980 and 1990 March Current Population Survey microdata files reveals that racial inequality in total earnings from wages and salaries increased in the Federal Government during the period and that the benefits for blacks working for the Federal Government decreased.
Abstract
The analysis focused on data by race and gender in three sectors: private industry, the Federal Government, and a combination of State and local government. Control variables included region, age, education, and occupation. Results revealed that full-time employment increased most rapidly for women. In addition, the black-white earnings ratio in State and local government improved from 0.81 to 0.87 for men, although no changes occurred for women during the decade. Third, the black-white gap in the Federal government increased by $400 for women and by $2,500 for men. Over time, differences in qualifications were less able to account for these differences. Fourth, even though the Federal Government generally paid the highest average wages, the Federal advantage fell sharply across the 1980's for women and especially for black men. Tables, discussion of implications, and 45 references.