February 2025
Simonetta Longhi
Abstract:
This paper investigates the evolution of ethnic wage gaps among men and women in the UK over the period 1993– 2023. The results show reductions in wage gaps among all South Asian groups, which are driven by higher educational attainment and occupational advancement. In contrast, wage gaps persist for Black ethnic groups. While for Black Caribbeans a key issue is lower levels education, for Black Africans the high proportion of foreign-born individuals limits their returns on education. These trends suggest a reordering of the wage gap hierarchy over time, with Black groups expected to experience the largest disparities in the future, instead of the historically disadvantaged Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups.
Download this paper here: https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25007.pdf
Supplementary material is available in the online appendix: https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/25007_appendix.pdf
