The Market Work Behavior and Wages of Women: 1975-94

Abstract

Changes in the market work and wages of women from 1975 to 1994 are documented. Women are organized into nine birth cohorts, five schooling groups, and each year of age from 25 to 60 years and their weekly and annual work hours, their annual work weeks, their employment-population ratio, and their real average hourly earnings tabulated. Schooling differences in work behavior have become wider in recent cohorts as have their wages. The relationship between work and wages is estimated for women of different ages, cohorts, and marital status. The gap between the work of unmarried and married women has narrowed and the role of wages (both the wages of women and those of husbands) is examined to determine the extent to which changes in wages account for these movements.