Job Satisfaction, Work Characteristics, and the Gender Wage Gap in Europe: Exploring Productivity and Compensation Effects

Fernanda Mazzotta, Anna Papaccio and Lavinia Parisi
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Fernanda Mazzotta: Department of Economics and Statistics - University of Salerno - Italy and CELPE
Anna Papaccio: Department of Political and Communication Sciences (DiSPC), University of Salerno - Italy and CELPE
Lavinia Parisi: Department of Economics and Statistics - University of Salerno - Italy and CELPE

No 175, CELPE Discussion Papers from CELPE - CEnter for Labor and Political Economics, University of Salerno, Italy

Abstract: This paper examines how intrinsic and extrinsic job features influence job satisfaction and the gender pay gap in Europe, testing compensating and productivity effects. Using 2007–2020 SHARE data, random effects probit and wage models, and a gender-specific Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition, we find women earn about 26% less than men, yet report similar satisfaction levels, providing no evidence of a gender satisfaction paradox. Enhancing intrinsic job quality—career prospects, recognition, and autonomy—raises satisfaction and aligns with higher productivity outcomes. Productivity and compensating effects differ by gender and region, reflecting structural and cultural inequalities across European labour markets.

Keywords: Job satisfaction; wage gap; intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J28 J31 M54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 46
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sal:celpdp:021731

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