Occupational segregation

Occupational segregation is the uneven distribution of demographic groups across occupations or across ranks within occupations. It can be horizontal, between kinds of work, or vertical, between levels of authority or pay.

Horizontal segregation: The concentration of demographic groups in different occupations or fields of work. This is occupational segregation across kinds of jobs rather than ranks.
Duncan dissimilarity index: A measure of how unevenly two groups are distributed across categories, including occupations. It became a standard way to quantify occupational separation between demographic groups.
Labor force survey: A recurring statistical survey that measures employment, unemployment, and characteristics of the workforce. Its occupational data allow researchers to track segregation across groups and years.
Gender pay gap: The difference in average earnings between women and men, measured across a population or within comparable work. Differences in occupational placement account for part of the overall earnings gap.
Wage discrimination: Unequal pay for workers because of a protected or socially salient characteristic, rather than job-related factors. Pay discrimination concerns unequal compensation; segregation concerns where groups are distributed across work.
Vertical segregation: The concentration of demographic groups at different levels of authority, status, or pay within an occupation or organization. This is the within-occupation hierarchy dimension of occupational segregation.
Occupational census: A population count that records people's jobs or occupational classifications. Census records provide the occupational distributions used to identify segregation.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: A United States federal agency that enforces laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Its enforcement and employer reporting address discriminatory practices that can shape occupational patterns.
Occupational feminization: The historical increase in women's share of workers in an occupation or field. When occupations become feminized, their pay and status may change alongside workforce composition.
Job polarization: A labor-market shift in which employment grows at both high- and low-wage ends while middle-wage jobs shrink. It describes change in the job structure, not demographic concentration across occupations.

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