Mathematical model explores gender and ethnicity pay gaps at universities in Aotearoa

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-10-11 10:01

New Zealand

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Over their working lifetimes women of all ethnicities have shorter careers and are more likely to leave academia than men, and all minority ethnic groups - and women - earn considerably less than their Pākehā male colleagues. These findings come from a mathematical model which compares total lifetime earnings of different gender and ethnicity groups, while accounting for the different lengths of time spent in academia. The model uses national data on all academic staff from Aotearoa New Zealand from 2012-2018. The researchers say the results underscore the need to address intersectional disadvantages, and to develop effective policies to overcome narrow hiring, promotion, and attrition practices.

Media release

From: The Royal Society

Using simple mathematical models of attrition parameterized with data we compare the total lifetime earnings of different gender and ethnicity groups with and without accounting for the different lengths of time spent in academia. The lifetime earnings gaps are considerably larger when we account for different hiring and leaving ages. We find that overall, for every ethnicity, women have shorter careers and are more likely to leave academia. During their academic career all minority ethnic groups – and women – earn considerably less than their male white, European colleagues

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Journal/
conference: Royal Society Open Science

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Canterbury

Funder: We received no funding for this study

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