Occupational Segregation by Race and Gender, 1958–1981

Abstract

Studies of occupational segregation by gender reveal little change since 1958. By disaggregating annual data for 1958–81 by race as well as gender, however, the author shows that although white women's occupational distribution has remained stable relative to white men's, nonwhite women's distribution has changed dramatically, particularly relative to white women's. Regression analysis examines structural economic changes, relative educational attainment, and the business cycle as determinants of changes in the occupational distribution over the period 1962–81.