Interrupted Work Careers and the Starting Salaries of Female Workers in Britain

David Campbell ()

Studies in Economics from School of Economics, University of Kent

Abstract: Evidence from previous studies suggest that part of the observed wage differential between males and females is due to the spells of non-participation experienced by women. During these career breaks, no new investment in human capital occurs and the existing stock of skills depreciates, placing women at a disadvantage when the re-enter the labour market. By considering a simple life cycle human capital model, it is possible to show that women anticipating interrupted careers will invest in less full-time education and enter the labour market with a lower starting salary than males. This effect is greatest for women anticipating long breaks, or breaks occurring at an early age. Using data from the National Child Development Study, it is found that women planning spells of non-participation enter the labour market earlier than males and with approximately 10% lower starting salaries.

Keywords: schooling; starting salary (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002-05
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