Discrimination, segregation and firm effects: some UK microevidence

In samples of employees from two firms, women are segregated in low-pay occ upations and therefore receive lower returns on their (similar:) educationa l qualifications than men. In the primary-sector, capital-intensive, unioni zed firm, all wages are much higher. In the secondary-sector firm, rewardin g qualifications and experience at the rates found in the primary firm woul d increase earnings (including fringe benefits) by about 80%, much more tha n the usual firm-size or industry differential.