Share of change in men’s black-white wage gaps accounted for by observable and unobservable factors, by potential experience and educational attainment, 1979–2015
| Total observables | Total unobservables | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New entrant men, high school only | 0.87 | -0.95 | 0 |
| New entrant men, bachelor’s degree only | -0.39 | 5.28 | 0 |
| New entrant men, bachelor’s degree or more | -2.01 | 8.09 | 0 |
| Experienced men, high school only | 0.35 | 1.77 | 0 |
| Experienced men, bachelor’s degree only | -0.40 | 5.47 | 0 |
| Experienced men, bachelor’s degree or more | -0.25 | 9.22 | 0 |
Note: The * signifies total net change labels where the change is statistically insignificant. Experienced workers have 11 to 20 years of experience. New entrants have 0 to 10 years of experience. Change in gaps are of adjusted average hourly wages. Labels on top of bars indicate net change in the black-white wage gap. Total unobservables include factors such as racial discrimination, unobservable skills, and wage inequality. Total observables include education, experience, region of residence, and metro status.
Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey (CPS) Outgoing Rotation Group microdata