WJEMSD · Vol 11, No 2 · 2015

Influences on the gender wage gap of Trinidad and Tobago: An economic concept or a social construct? Dr. Reshma Mahabir and Dindial Ramrattan

Department of Research and Policy
Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain
Trinidad and Tobago
Department of Research and Policy
Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain
Trinidad and Tobago
Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the presence of a gender wage gap in Trinidad and Tobago and its possible influences.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Investigation of the issue utilised data from the 2008/2009 Household Budget Survey. A combination of linear regression and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition analysis permits segregation of wage differences into explained and unexplained.

Findings

At the aggregate level, there is a significant difference between male and female wages. Investigation showed that the demographics with the highest levels of discrimination were in the age groups 35-44, income levels $3,000-$5,999 and private sector employment vs public sector.

Original/Value of the Paper

The results of this research can serve as a useful tool for more gender-sensitive employment policies in Trinidad and Tobago, and possibly the wider Caribbean region.

Keywords
EconomicsSustainable development
Citation

Mahabir, R. and Ramrattan, D. (2015), "Influences on the gender wage gap of Trinidad and Tobago: An economic concept or a social construct?", World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 140-151. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-06-2014-0014