Work

Labor Market Returns to Personality: A Job Search Approach to Understanding Gender Gaps

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This paper examines the effects of the Big Five personality traits on labor market outcomes and gender wage gaps using a job search and bargaining model with parameters that vary at the individual level. The analysis, based on German panel data, reveals that both cognitive and noncognitive traits significantly influence wages and employment outcomes. Higher conscientiousness and emotional stability and lower agreeableness levels enhance earnings and job stability for both genders. Differences in the distributions of personality characteristics between men and women account for as much of the gender wage gap as do the large differences in labor market experience.

Source: Journal of Political Economy

DOI: 10.1086/734092

Authors: Christopher J. Flinn, Petra E. Todd, Weilong Zhang

Institutions: National Bureau of Economic Research, Collegio Carlo Alberto, University of Cambridge, New York University, University of Pennsylvania

Language: English

Topic: Labor market dynamics and wage inequality

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4404582112

FWCI: 4.956

Cites: 69

Cited by: 20

Related to: 10