Gender wage gaps in Chinese corporate hierarchies: Low at the top,higher at the bottom

Abstract

Does the magnitude of the gender wage gap vary across job layers? By examining data encompassing “high-profile” managers across listed firms in the Chinese stock markets spanning from 2008 to 2019, our study reveals no significant gender disparity in the wages of CEOs. However, a pronounced wage gap emerges between men and women in positions other than CEOs within the C-Suite, with the disparity widening as one descends further down the job layers. These findings remain robust when accounting for manager turnover, employing various matching methods, and considering proxies for gender preferences across firms’ provinces. Consequently, solely focusing on compensation at the upper echelons of the job ladder may underestimate the extent of the gender wage gap.

JEL Classification: J16, J13, M12