The impact of wage bargaining and worker preferences on the gender pay gap

摘要

This article examines the gender pay gap in Ireland from a comparative perspective, using an employer-employee matched dataset from 2003. The research assesses the magnitude and drivers of the gap separately for both the full-time and part-time labour markets. The results suggest that a wage bargaining system centred on social partnership was of benefit to females within both labour markets. Trade union membership was associated with a wider gap in the full-time labour market but a narrower differential among part-time workers.