Report to Congressional Requesters

United States General Accounting Office

GAO

October 2001 WOMEN IN

MANAGEMENT

Analysis of Selected

Data From the Current

Population Survey

GAO-02-156
Page i GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Letter 1

Appendix I Congressional Briefing Slides: Women in Management 3

Appendix II GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments 23

GAO Contact 23

Staff Acknowledgments 23

Contents
Page 1 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

October 23, 2001

The Honorable Carolyn B. Maloney

The Honorable John D. Dingell

House of Representatives

Because of your interest in the challenges women face in advancing their

careers, you asked that we obtain information concerning: (1) key

characteristics of women and men in management positions; (2)

representation of women in management positions compared to their

representation in all positions within particular industries, and (3) salary

differentials between women and men in full-time management positions.

To address your request, we obtained and analyzed data from the

Department of Labor’s Current Population Survey (CPS) 1995 and 2000

March supplement.1

 Our analysis was focused on 10 broad industrial

classifications. We defined “managers” as all occupational titles within

CPS that included the words administrator, director, manager, or

supervisor. These 39 occupational titles included a broad range of

positions—for example, general administrators, managers of food or

lodging establishments, and sales supervisors. The underlying source data

have several limitations that need to be considered when reviewing our

findings. For example, CPS does not provide information on years of

experience or level of managerial responsibility, two factors that are

important when determining salary levels. As a result, our analysis of

salary differences between male and female full-time managers cannot

account for all possible causes of salary differences. Also, because CPS is

self-reported, information on demographic factors, occupation, and

income is subject to human error and cannot be independently validated.

We conducted our work from August to October 2001 in accordance with

generally accepted government auditing standards.

On September 26, 2001, we briefed you on the results of our analysis. This

report formally conveys the information provided during that briefing (see

app. I). In summary, we found:

 1

 The CPS is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households that obtains key labor force data,

such as employment, wages and occupations. The current CPS sample is drawn from the

1990 Decennial Census. In March of each year, the CPS obtains additional information

during its supplement, such as educational attainment. The data collected in March of 2000

represent labor force data for 1999.

United States General Accounting Office

Washington, DC 20548
Page 2 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

• Female managers in most of the 10 industries examined had less

education, were younger, were more likely to work part-time, and were

less likely to be married than male managers, according to the March 2000

CPS.

• There was no statistically significant difference between the percent of

management positions filled by women and the percent of all positions

filled by women for five of the 10 industries we examined. Statistically

significant differences did exist in the other five industries. In 4 of these,

women were less represented in management positions than they were in

all positions. In 1 of these industries, women were more prevalent in

management positions than they were in all positions. Generally, these

relationships were the same in 1995 and 2000.

• In 1995 and 2000, full-time female managers earned less than full-time male

managers, after controlling for education, age, marital status and race.

As arranged with your offices, unless you publicly announce its contents

earlier, we plan no further distribution of this report until 30 days after its

release. At that time, we will make copies available to others upon request.

If you or your staffs have any questions about this report, please contact

me on (202) 512-7215. Other contacts and acknowledgments are listed in

appendix II.

Robert E. Robertson

Director, Education, Workforce,

And Income Security Issues
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 3 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT:

Analysis of Selected Data From

the Current Population Survey

Briefing for Congressional Requestors

September 26, 2001
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 4 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

OBJECTIVES

You asked that we analyze data from the

Current Population Survey (CPS) to identify:

• Key characteristics of women and men in

management positions;

• Representation of women in management

positions; and

• Salary differentials between women and

men in full-time management positions.
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 5 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

As requested, we focused on 10 industries:

1. Communications

2. Public Administration

3. Business and Repair Services

4. Entertainment and Recreation Services

5. Other Professional Services

6. Educational Services

7. Retail Trade

8. Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate

9. Hospitals and Medical Services

10. Professional Medical Services
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 6 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

We used March 1995 and 2000 CPS data:

• CPS data on the civilian labor force are collected

through monthly surveys, and an annual March

supplement, from about 50,000 households

selected from 1990 Decennial Census files.

• We defined “managers” as CPS occupations

titled administrator, manager, supervisor, or

director.

• We conducted statistical analysis, controlling for

education, age, marital status, and race, to

identify differences in male and female full-time

manager salaries.
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 7 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

Limitations of CPS data:

• CPS March supplement lacks data on years of

experience or degree of managerial

responsibility, two factors important for

determining salary levels.

• CPS data are self-reported by respondents.
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 8 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

SUMMARY RESULTS:

Characteristics of Managers, 2000

• For most industries in 2000, female

managers:

• have less education;

• are younger;

• are more likely to work part-time; and

• are less likely to be married than men who

are managers.

• There appears to be little difference in racial

composition between male and female

managers in most of the industries.
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 9 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Characteristics of Managers:

College Degree or Greater, 2000

Commun.

Public Admin.

Business

Entertainment

Other Prof.

Education

Retail Trade

Finance

Hospitals

Prof. Med

0

20

40

60

80

100

Male managers

Female managers

Percent
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 10 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Characteristics of Managers:

Average Age, 2000

Average Age

Industry Male Managers Female Managers

Communications 42.9 40.4

Public Administration 47.7 45.6

Business and Repair Services 40.6 38.3

Entertainment and Recreation Services 39.8 38.4

Other Professional Services 44.5 39.8

Educational Services 46.8 44.3

Retail Trade 38.9 37.3

Finance, Insurance and Real Estate 45.1 41.1

Hospitals and Medical Services 43.7 44.5

Professional Medical Services 42.7 41.6
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 11 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Characteristics of Managers:

Part-time Schedule, 2000

Commun.

Public Admin.

Business

Entertainment

Education

Other Prof.

Retail Trade

Finance

Hospitals

Prof. Med.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Male managers

Female managers

Percent
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 12 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Characteristics of Managers:

Married, 2000

Commun.

Public Admin.

Business

Entertainment

Education

Other Prof.

Retail Trade

Finance

Hospitals

Prof. Med.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Male managers

Female managers

Percent
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 13 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

SUMMARY RESULTS:

Representation of Women in Management

In 2000, 5 industries had no statistically

significant difference between the percent of

management positions filled by women and

the percent of all industry positions filled by

women:

• Communications

• Public Administration

• Business and Repair Services

• Entertainment and Recreation Services

• Other Professional Services
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 14 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Representation of Women

in Management

In 2000, 5 industries had a statistically

significant difference between the percent of

management positions filled by women and

the percent of all positions in the industry

filled by women:

• Educational Services

• Retail Trade

• Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

• Hospitals and Medical Services

• Professional Medical Services
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 15 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Representation of Women

in Management, 2000

Commun.

Public Admin.

Business

Entertainment

Other Prof.

Education

Retail Trade

Finance

Hospitals

Prof. Med.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent of all positions filled by women

Percent of management positions filled by women Percent
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 16 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Representation of Women

in Management, 2000

Industry Positions Filled by Women

All

(%)

Management

(%)

Percentage

Point Difference

Communications 40.9 39.4 1.5

Public Administration 45.1 44 1.1

Business and Repair Services 38.3 33.5 4.8

Entertainment and Recreational Services 41 37 4

Other Professional Services 50.1 50.8 (.7)

Educational Services* 70.6 61.1 9.5

Retail Trade* 52.7 45.8 6.9

Finance, Insurance and Real Estate* 61.1 52.8 8.3

Hospitals and Medical Services* 79.5 65.9 13.6

Professional Medical Services* 79.8 90.2 (10.4)

*indicates a statistically significant difference
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 17 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Representation of Women in

Management

1995 data on representation of female

managers was similar to the 2000 data for all

industries except for Entertainment and

Recreational Services, where:

• In 1995, women were less represented in

management positions than they were in

all positions.

• In 2000, there was no statistically

significant difference between the two.
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 18 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

SUMMARY RESULTS:

Salary Differentials, Full-time Managers

Controlling for education, age, marital status,

and race, we found that:

In 1995 and 2000, full-time female managers

in each of the 10 industries earned less than

male full-time managers.
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 19 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Salary Differentials, Full-time Managers

Full-time Female Manager

Earnings for Every $1.00

Earned by Male Full-time

Managers

Industry

1995 2000

Communications $ .86 $ .73

Public Administration $ .80 $ .83

Business and Repair Services $ .82 $ .76

Entertainment and Recreation Services $ .83 $ .62

Other Professional Services $ .88 $ .83

Educational Services $ .86 $ .91

Retail Trade $ .69 $ .65

Finance, Insurance and Real Estate $ .76 $ .68

Hospitals and Medical Services $ .80 $ .85

Professional Medical Services $ .90 $ .88
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 20 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Salary Differentials, Full-time Managers

• Differences in salary levels between 1995 and

2000 should not necessarily be seen as a trend

because salary levels in either of these two

years could represent a temporary fluctuation.

• More extensive analysis over an extended

period of time would be needed to determine

trends in differences between male and female

full-time manager salaries.
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 21 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CODES AND

DESCRIPTIONS

• Communications (440-449): Includes radio and television

broadcasting, telephone communications, telegraph.

• Public Administration (900-990): Includes executive and

legislative offices, general government, public finance.

• Business and Repair Services (721-760): Includes advertising,

personnel supply services, computer and data processing

services, automotive rental, electrical repair shops.

• Entertainment and Recreation Services (800-810): Includes

theaters, motion pictures, videotape rental, bowling centers,

recreation services.

• Other Professional Services (841, 872-893): Includes legal

services, accounting and bookkeeping services, management

services.
Appendix I: Congressional Briefing Slides:

Women in Management

Page 22 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CODES AND

DESCRIPTIONS (con’t.)

• Educational Services (842-860): Includes elementary and

secondary schools, colleges and universities, vocational

schools, libraries.

• Retail Trade (580-699): Includes retail stores, catalog and mail

order houses, gas stations, vending machine operators.

• Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (700-720): Includes

banking, savings institutions, credit agencies, security and

commodity companies, insurance, real estate.

• Hospitals and Medical Services (831-840): Includes hospitals,

nursing facilities, health services.

• Professional Medical Services (except hospitals) (812-830):

Includes clinics and offices of physicians, dentists,

optometrists, chiropractors.
Appendix II: GAO Contact and Staff

Acknowledgments

Page 23 GAO-02-156 Women in Management

Lori Rectanus, (202) 512-7215

Wendy Ahmed, Paula Bonin, Gretta Goodwin, Douglas Sloane, and John G.

Smale, Jr. provided extensive computer and data analysis support.

Appendix II: GAO Contact and Staff

Acknowledgments

GAO Contact

Staff

Acknowledgments

(130087)

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