State of the Union 2018: Occupational Segregation

Nearly half of the women in the labor force would have to move to a different occupation to eliminate all occupational segregation by gender. Gender segregation increased in the 1950s and 1960s, declined quite sharply in the 1970s and 1980s, but stalled starting in the 1990s. If the average annual rates of change since 1970 were to continue, it would take 150 years to reach full integration; if post-1990 rates continued, it would take 330 years.

Reference Information

Author: 

Kim A. Weeden,
Mary Newhart,
Dafna Gelbgiser
Publisher: 
Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality
Publication Date: 
March 2018