Multidimensional Indexes of Occupational Segregation

Abstract

The properties of three multidimensional measures of occupational segregation by gender and race are compared-namely, the generalizations of the Karmel and Maclachlan and Gini indexes and Goodman and Kruskal's τb. The generalization of the Gini index is shown to be flawed. Calculations are undertaken for the other two measures, using unpublished U.S. Department of Labor employment data for six gender/race groups for the period 1983 to 1992. It is concluded that, if correctly decomposed, Silber's generalization of the Karmel and Maclachlan index is the superior measure for tracking trends over time of occupational segregation by gender and race.