The Narrowing Male‐Female Unemployment Differential

Abstract

ABSTRACTHistorically, the female unemployment rate in the U.S. has been higher than the male rate, but recently this unemployment rate differential has narrowed. This study looks at the reasons behind this phenomenon, and finds that relative declines in male‐dominated industries such as durable manufacturing and construction increase the male unemployment rate relative to the female rate. If male‐dominated industries continue to decline, the female unemployment rate is likely to fall below the male rate in the near future and remain lower in both recessions and expansions. The results reported here also indicate that increases in the female labor force participation rate are associated with relatively lower female unemployment rates after the mid‐l970s, contrasting with the positive relationship in the 1950s and 1960s.