The labor force status of transgender men and women

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study uses data from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey to explore the labor force status of transgender men and women. The data suggest that transgender individuals tend to have higher unemployment rates than those reported elsewhere for the general U.S. population. Differences in the distributions of labor force statuses of transgender men and women were found; women were more likely to be out of the labor force, while men were more likely to be employed. Multinomial logit analysis revealed both similarities and differences in the effects of characteristics that influence labor force status of transgender men and women. In particular, the ability of other people to identify transgender individuals as such increased the odds of both transgender men and women being out of the labor force rather than employed. State laws prohibiting employment discrimination against transgender individuals increased the odds of transgender men being out of the labor force rather than employed, while no significant effect of such laws on transgender women was found.