Previous research finds evidence of gender-based occupational segregation and pay inequities in public-sector state agencies. Frequently, this research is based on EEO-4 data from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). These data include all municipal and state employers (with over 100 employees) throughout the public sector, except public schools and higher education. EEOC data include information on all state employees in every state, but these data are subject to content, access, and reporting limitations. Our analysis of individual-level data on administrators (N = 10,331) and professionals (N = 37,213) provided by four states for 2022—Arkansas, Connecticut, North Dakota, and Texas—finds evidence of gender-based occupational segregation and pay inequities in many occupations and agencies. Women tend to be concentrated in those positions with less policy-making discretion and power. Furthermore, gender-based pay inequities often persist, even after controlling for years of service, state, and policy type.
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