Women in Management: Analysis of Selected Data From the Current  
Population Survey (23-OCT-01, GAO-02-156).			 
								 
GAO analyzed data from the Department of Labor's Current	 
Population Survey (CPS)  1995 and 2000 March supplement, focusing
on challenges women face in advancing their careers. Female	 
managers in most of the ten industries GAO examined had less	 
education, were younger, were more likely to work part-time, and 
were less likely to be married than male managers. 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 ten industries GAO	 
examined. In addition, in 1995 and 2000, full-time female	 
managers earned less than full-time male managers, after	 
controlling for education, age, marital status and race.	 
-------------------------Indexing Terms------------------------- 
REPORTNUM:   GAO-02-156 					        
    ACCNO:   A02354						        
  TITLE:     Women in Management: Analysis of Selected Data From the  
Current Population Survey					 
     DATE:   10/23/2001 
  SUBJECT:   Occupational surveys				 
	     Womens rights					 
	     Sex discrimination 				 
	     Employment discrimination				 
	     Labor statistics					 
	     Department of Labor's Current Population		 
	     Survey						 
								 

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GAO-02-156
     
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.

Bu siness

Entertainment Other Prof.

Education Retail Tr

ade 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

Enter tainment

Education Other Prof.

Reta il Trade

Finance Hospitals

Prof. Me d.

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

Co mmun.

Public Admin.

Business Entertainment

Education Other Prof.

Re tail Trade

Finance Hospitals

P rof. 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 Fin

ance Hospitals

Prof. M ed.

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

Positions Filled by Women Industry 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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