Industry Wage Differentials: A Firm-Based Approach

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2024
Volume: 42
Issue: S1
Pages: S11 - S59

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We revisit the estimation of industry wage differentials using linked employer-employee data. Cross-sectional industry differences overstate pay premiums due to unmeasured heterogeneity. Estimates based on models with person and industry effects understate true premiums: workers who switch to a higher-premium industry typically move from higher-paying firms in their origin industry to lower-paying firms in their destination (and vice versa). The corrected standard deviation of log wage effects is 0.122 across narrowly defined industries and is similar at higher levels of aggregation. Higher-skilled workers sort to higher-pay industries. Premiums and worker sorting are more variable in cities with higher-wage firms and higher-skilled workers.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/728803
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25