The role of gender in the long-term employment outcomes of young adults with disabilities

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Doren, Bonnie | Gau, Jeff M. | Lindstrom, Lauren

Affiliations: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA | Oregon Research Institute, OR, USA

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Bonnie Doren, University of Oregon, 1571 Agate Street, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. Tel.: +1 541 346 1413; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: The purpose of the current study was to examine wage differentials based on gender over a six year post-school period and potential moderators of differential outcomes based on gender. The study included data on 521 participants of a statewide school to work program who had wage data within the state employment database. Results based on mixed effects models indicated that males with disabilities achieved significantly higher starting wages than females and this wage gap remained consistent across the study period. Moderators by gender indicated that graduating high school with a diploma and successful closure from Vocational Rehabilitation were significantly related to higher initial wages for males with disabilities but not females. Results are discussed in the context of related findings suggesting that females do not obtain the same returns as males with disabilities from common benchmarks of success.

Keywords: Gender, disabilities, post-school transition, employment, wages

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-2010-0532

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 35-42, 2011