Share of change in women’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 women, high school only | 1.35 | -3.18 | 0 |
| New entrant women, bachelor’s degree only | -1.16 | -0.67 | 0 |
| New entrant women, bachelor’s degree or more | -2.51 | 3.33 | 0 |
| Experienced women, high school only | 1.11 | 7.75 | 0 |
| Experienced women, bachelor’s degree only | -1.33 | 6.90 | 0 |
| Experienced women, bachelor’s degree or more | -1.86 | 10.20 | 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