Breaking the glass ceiling? The gender wage gap in research-oriented careers for PhD graduates

Abstract The study investigates the gender wage gap among PhD recipients in Italy, focusing on whether research-oriented jobs mitigate wage discrimination. Utilizing data from the Professional Integration Survey of PhDs, it employs quantile and Recentered Influence Function regressions to analyze wage disparities across the wage distribution. Findings reveal a persistent gender wage gap across all quantiles, with research jobs offering a wage premium that does not entirely close the gap. The analysis contributes to understanding the impact of occupational segregation and job types on wage disparities, suggesting policy interventions to address gender wage inequalities in academia and beyond. The paper highlights the need for further research and policy efforts to achieve gender parity in professional fields, particularly high-skilled sectors like private and public research entities.