Why do Female Scientific Labor Force Eschew Scientific and Engineering Fields? Evidence from United States Using Mincer’s Earnings Function Correcting for Major Selection Biases and Multinomial Logistic Regression Models

Abstract

Abstract This study attempts to explore the phenomenon of US native females’ under-representation in scientific and engineering fields and investigate whether this is the consequence of self-selection. To answer this, two vital academic issues have been studied: first, whether native female scientists’ major or occupational selection are based on maximization of (expected) lifetime earnings; and second, whether supply-side attributes such as time devoted to housework and childcare can account for female scientists’ eschewing S&E related occupations and majors? Using US Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System and using earnings function correcting for major selection biases, this research finds that elder females who had a period of time of dropout will experience job skill atrophy. A predicted time period young female scientists plan to drop out of labor market or reduce human capital investment for family reasons could explain lower chances of choosing S&E related majors. Based on our empirical results, females currently work in the occupations that can maximize lifetime earnings, whether they work in S&E fields or not. Females would be more likely to major and work in S&E related occupations if they neither plan to intermit their human capital investment nor suffer from job skills atrophy. JEL: J16, J22, J24