The properties of three multidimensional measures of occupational segregation by gender and
race are compared-namely, the generalizations of the Karmel and Maclachlan and Gini indexes
and Goodman and Kruskal's τb. The generalization of the Gini index is shown to be flawed.
Calculations are undertaken for the other two measures, using unpublished U.S. Department of
Labor employment data for six gender/race groups for the period 1983 to 1992. It is concluded
that, if correctly decomposed, Silber's generalization of the Karmel and Maclachlan index is the
superior measure for tracking trends over time of occupational segregation by gender and race.
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