Authors: Katrina Kim
Mentors: Joshua Price
Insitution: Southern Utah University
The gender wage gap has been a persistent issue in the labor market for several decades, resulting in inequalities in workforce opportunities for women. Traditionally, this gap has often been attributed to observable characteristics, referred to as "human capital determinants" which characterized jobs in to male-dominated and female-dominated roles. This division was based on factors such as job requirements and physical labor, leading to disparities in wages. However, recent decades have seen a narrowing of the gender wage gap due to increased opportunities and the emergence of the gig economy. While Uber is one of the most widely recognized gig economy platforms, this study aims to explore whether the gender wage gap persists or narrows across various technology-based job markets. Utilizing data from the Gig Economy Data Hub, which includes information from gig worker surveys, tax returns, demographics, and more, this research seeks to identify the factors influencing gender pay disparities. The study will examine income differentials between male and female gig workers across multiple platforms, taking into account various wage determinants and tax statuses. Additionally, demographic variables including race and household income will be considered as wage disparities exist not only between genders but also among different minority groups. By examining various factors, this study will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the gig economy on gender pay equity and inform potential policy interventions aimed at addressing these disparities.