Ethnic employment segregation

2006
united states

Ethnic employment segregation refers to the phenomenon where certain ethnic groups are disproportionately concentrated in specific industries, occupations, or areas of the labor market. This segregation can occur due to various factors, including historical discrimination, social networks, cultural preferences, and educational disparities.

Ethnic employment segregation can have significant implications for individuals and communities. It can lead to unequal access to employment opportunities, lower wages, limited career advancement prospects, and higher levels of poverty among certain ethnic groups. It can also perpetuate social inequality and hinder social integration.

There are multiple ways in which ethnic employment segregation can be measured and analyzed. For example, researchers often use indices such as the Duncan Index or the Dissimilarity Index to quantify the level of segregation within a particular labor market. These indices compare the actual distribution of ethnic groups across occupations or industries to a hypothetical distribution based on their overall representation in the labor force.

Policies and interventions aimed at reducing ethnic employment segregation include promoting diversity and inclusion in hiring processes, improving access to education and skills training for disadvantaged ethnic groups, implementing affirmative action measures, addressing discrimination and bias in the workplace, and promoting equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their ethnicity.

Further reading

Tomaskovic-Devey D.; Zimmer C.; Stainback K.; Robinson C.; Taylor T.; McTague T. (2006) "Documenting desegregation: Segregation in American workplaces by race, ethnicity, and sex, 1966 2003", American Sociological Review, 71(4), pp. 565-588. American Sociological Association. DOI: 10.1177/000312240607100403