Occupational status attainment in Liberia: The roles of achievement and ascription

Abstract

Using a subsample of respondents from the 1974 Liberian census, this study examines occupational status attainment in Liberia. The study finds that education is the strongest determinant of occupational status for Americo-Liberians and non-Americo-Liberians, men and women, and never and ever married women. Although the process of occupational status attainment is generally similar for all groups, the status return to education is greater for women than it is for men. While Americo-Liberian women have the highest levels of educational and occupational attainment, women in general are relatively disadvantaged in terms of socioeconomic achievement. The findings also indicate an incipient pattern of occupational sex segregation in Liberia. In an extended model of female attainment, the findings provide minimal support for the human capital theory which implies that never married women would be more like men in their occupational distribution and attainment. The paper explores the implications of these findings.