Abstracts
Summary
Mounting evidence suggests that sexual orientation matters in the labour market. Research in Canada points to a wage hierarchy not only by gender, but also by sexual orientation, with heterosexual men out-earning gay men, lesbians, and heterosexual women. While previous work has considered how human capital characteristics, occupation and industry of employment, and family status factor into the creation of these earnings disparities, little research has examined how residential concentration in large metropolitan areas factors into the creation of sexual orientation pay gaps.
Drawing on the 2006 Census of Canada, this study investigates how sexual orientation wage gaps vary across geographic areas in Canada, documenting earnings disparities across the metropolitan/non-metropolitan divide as well as for Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. We also evaluate whether the mechanisms contributing to wage gaps diverge across these contexts, focusing on how pay gaps differ across occupations, points in the earnings distribution, and sectors of employment.
Our results show that pay gaps are highest in non-metropolitan Canada. The underlying components of wage gaps fluctuate across Canada, especially for gay men. Sexual orientation earnings penalties are reduced in public sector employment, even where private sector wage gaps are highest. These results suggest that local social and labour market contexts are associated with the earnings outcomes of sexual minorities.
Keywords:
- sexual orientation,
- earnings,
- labour markets,
- occupations,
- public sector
Résumé
Les données récentes suggèrent que l’orientation sexuelle joue un rôle important sur le marché du travail. La recherche au Canada a mis lumière une hiérarchie salariale, non seulement selon le genre, mais également selon l’orientation sexuelle : en effet, les hommes hétérosexuels gagnent davantage que les hommes homosexuels et les femmes homosexuelles, ainsi que les femmes hétérosexuelles. Alors que les recherches habituelles ont mis l’accent sur la manière dont les attributs en capital humain, la profession exercée et l’industrie d’emploi, de même que le statut familial influaient sur la création de telles inégalités, jusqu’à ce jour, peu d’attention a été consacrée au rôle que peut jouer la concentration résidentielle dans les grands ensembles métropolitains sur la création de disparités salariales liées à l’orientation sexuelle.
Utilisant les données en provenance du Recensement du Canada de 2006, la présente étude examine comment les disparités salariales en vertu de l’orientation sexuelle varient selon les différentes régions géographiques canadiennes (métropolitaines et non métropolitaines), de même que pour Toronto, Montréal et Vancouver. Nous cherchons également à savoir si les mécanismes qui contribuent aux disparités salariales observées diffèrent selon le type de divisions géographiques, en mettant l’accent sur des facteurs tels la profession occupée, la position dans les échelles salariales et le secteur d’emploi.
Nos résultats indiquent que les disparités salariales sont plus élevées dans les régions canadiennes non métropolitaines. Les composantes sous-jacentes des disparités salariales fluctuent particulièrement dans le cas des hommes homosexuels. Toutefois, on observe des écarts défavorables liés à l’orientation sexuelle moindres dans le secteur public, cela même lorsqu’elles s’avèrent élevées dans le secteur privé d’une même division géographique. Ces résultats suggèrent que l’environnement social local et le contexte du marché du travail sont associés aux gains de travail des minorités sexuelles.
Mots-clés:
- orientation sexuelle,
- gains,
- marchés du travail,
- professions,
- secteur public
Resumen
Estudios recientes sugieren que la orientación sexual juega un rol importante en el mercado laboral. Investigaciones en Canadá han mostrado la existencia de una jerarquía salarial, no solo con respecto al género sino también según la orientación sexual. En efecto, los hombres heterosexuales ganan más que los hombres homosexuales, las lesbianas, y las mujeres heterosexuales. Trabajos anteriores han puesto en evidencia el modo en que factores tales como las características del capital humano, la profesión, la rama de ocupación y la situación familiar influyen en la creación de tales desigualdades. Sin embargo, hasta hoy en día, se ha prestado poca atención a como la concentración residencial en grandes áreas metropolitanas contribuye a la creación de disparidades salariales vinculadas a la orientación sexual.
Utilizando los datos del Censo de Canadá de 2006, este estudio examina como las disparidades salariales según la orientación sexual varían entre las regiones metropolitanas y no metropolitanas, así como también para el caso de Toronto, Montreal y Vancouver. El articulo también evalúa si los mecanismos que contribuyen a las disparidades salariales observadas difieren según el tipo de divisiones geográficas, poniendo énfasis en factores tales como profesión, posición en las escalas salariales y sector de empleo.
Nuestros resultados indican que las disparidades salariales son más elevadas en las regiones canadienses no metropolitanas. Los componentes subyacentes de las disparidades salariales fluctúan particularmente en el caso de los hombres homosexuales. Los efectos negativos de la orientación sexual sobre el salario son menores en el sector público, aun allí donde las diferencias en el sector privado son las más grandes. Estos resultados sugieren que los contextos sociales y laborales a nivel local están asociados con los beneficios de remuneración de las minorías sexuales.
Palabras claves:
- Orientación sexual,
- salarios,
- mercados de trabajo,
- profesiones,
- sector público
Appendices
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