Why Do Women Leave Computer Science and Information ...€¦ · Science & Engineering Statistical Data System (SESTAT) 1993-2013 • Individuals with majors or working in science,

1 Donna K. Ginther, Ph.D. February 8, 2018

Why Do Women Leave Computer Science and

Information Technology Jobs?

For Presentation at:Australian Gender Economics Workshop

Donna K. GintherProfessor Department of Economics

Director, Center for Science, Technology & Economic Policy & NBER


Acknowledgements This work is coauthored with Joshua Rosenbloom

at Iowa State University.

We thank the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for funding this research.

The use of NSF data does not imply NSF endorsement of the research, research methods, or conclusions contained in this report.

This work is preliminary, comments are welcome!


Overview

Economic Explanations for lack of women in CS/IT

What accounts for the dearth of women majoring in CS/IT ?

Conditional on CS/IT major: What is the probability of employment in

CS/IT jobs? Conditional on CS/IT occupation: What is the probability of leaving?


Overview

Conditional on not starting in CS/IT What is the probability of entering?

Summary of Findings:• Women are less likely to study CS/IT at

the most selective universities• Immigrants and young children

significantly increase probability of women leaving CS/IT jobs.

5 Donna K. Ginther, Ph.D. February 8, 2018May 2017


August 2017



Overview

Significant discussion in the media about the dearth of women working in computer science/ information technology jobs.

High tech companies have a gender problem• Concerns that women are being

shut out of the high-paying jobs of the future.


Economic Explanations for Underrepresentation of Women in CS/IT

Mathematical ability Preferences Job matching

Family Obligations Discrimination/bias Immigration Climate


Data IPEDS Completion Data to Examine Patterns of

CS/IT Majors

Science & Engineering Statistical Data System (SESTAT) 1993-2013

• Individuals with majors or working in science, engineering, technology & mathematics (STEM) fields

• Two panels (1993-1999 & 2003-2010); 2013 National Survey of College Graduates.

• Rich data on demographics, education, earnings, employment


Gender & Undergraduate Major

With the exception of Math & Computer Science, the percentage of bachelor’s degrees awarded to women has increased steadily.


Do Women Major in CS/IT?

Computer Science is the only STEM discipline where the percentage of female majors has significantly decreased in the last two decades.



Much of this decrease has been driven by the large increase in the number of men and a somewhat smaller decrease in the number of men.



Less than 20% of AP Computer Science test takers are girls. Roughly the same percentage of women obtain Bachelor’s and PhD degrees in Computer Science.


Why Don’t Women Major in CS/IT?

Data consistent with two explanations: Preferences—women less likely to have

realistic and investigative preferences Mathematical Ability– mixed evidence

• CS/IT majors falling,• Math declining somewhat• Economics stable• Engineering Growing


Why Don’t Women Major in CS/IT? Zweben & Bizot (2015)—Women more likely to

major in CS/IT at Public and Private non-research institutions.

Women more likely to major in interdisciplinary computer science (e.g. Bioinformatics, Management Information Systems)

Orrenius & Zavodny (2015) foreign students crowd out women in STEM majors

• Is this happening in CS/IT?

• Use IPEDS & Carnegie data to investigate institutional characteristics


Share of Women CS/IT Majors by Institutional Characteristics

Variables All Institutions PhD-GrantingPublic -0.068*** -0.048***Masters 0.008Liberal Arts 0.036***Baccalaureate 0.023***Selective -0.052*** -0.081***Most Selective -0.058*** -0.080***Land-grant institution -0.005 -0.019***Historically Black College or University 0.171*** 0.204***Hispanic Serving Institution -0.029** 0.008Minority Serving Institution 0.030*** -0.001Share of Foreign BAs in CS/IT -0.023 0.021Share of Foreign PhDs in CS/IT -0.041*** -0.042***Share of Female PhDs in CS/IT -0.009 0.013


Why Don’t Women Major in CS/IT? Teaching seems to matter

• Women are less likely to major in CS/IT at public institutions, PhD granting institutions and land grant institutions

Women avoid CS/IT majors at the most-competitive institutions.

No evidence that foreign BAs in CS/IT are crowding out women

However, foreign graduate students depress women CS/IT majors

No role model effect from female grad students


Relationship between CS/IT Degrees & Jobs


Relationship Between Degrees and Jobs is Different in CS/IT

Less than half of those working in CS/IT jobs have CS/IT degrees (1.15 million out of 2.34 million)


Engineering is the Exact Opposite

Only 37% of degreed engineers are working in engineering occupations & only 18% of those working in engineering occupations do not have an engineering degree. Source: National Academy of Engineering.


Male CS/IT Majors are More Likely to Work in CS/IT Jobs

Growing gap between men and women with CS/IT majors working in CS/IT jobs—parity in 1993 now 21 percentage point gap.


CS/IT Workers Have Varied Educational Background—2013 NSCG

Women enter CS/IT jobs with non-CS/IT majors more frequently than men.Almost 25% of women come to CS/IT from a non-STEM background

Percent of Total by Gender Male Female

Computer Science/Information Technology 51.0% 42.4%Business 15.4% 16.8%Engineering (other than computer) 11.5% 6.0%Mathematics 2.9% 3.8%Other Science & Engineering Field 4.6% 7.7%Other Non-Science & Engineering 14.7% 23.3%Total Counts 1,788,487 548,506


Men Make Up an Increasing Share of CS/IT Employment

In 1993 Women were almost 1/3rd of CS/IT employment but in 2013 less than 1/4th of CS/IT employment.


Men Make Up an Increasing Share of CS/IT Employment

In 1993 Women were almost 1/3rd of CS/IT employment but in 2013 less than 1/4th of CS/IT employment.


Are Women More Likely to Leave CS/IT Employment?

Conditional on highest degree in CS/IT, we use probit models to estimate the probability of CS/IT employment within 0-5 years and 6-10 years of degree.

Conditional on working in CS/IT jobs within 0-5 years of degree, we estimate the hazard of exiting CS/IT employment for the 1990s & 2000s panels.


Probit Results: Working in CS/IT Jobs0-5 Years

Experience0-5 Years

Experience6-10 Years Experience

6-10 Years Experience

Female -0.053*** -0.071*** -0.045*** -0.041**Hispanic -0.054*** -0.054*** -0.121*** -0.121***Black -0.110*** -0.109*** -0.094*** -0.091***Married 0.005 -0.009 0.011 0.001# Children -0.039*** -0.054*** -0.022*** -0.021**Children <6 0.045*** 0.067*** 0.064*** 0.085***Fem*Married 0.035 0.045 Fem*#Kids 0.045*** -0.002 Fem*Kids<6 -0.077*** -0.075***

* p<.05 ** p<.01 ***p<.001

Single Women are 5-7 percentage points less likely to work in CS/IT Jobs. Women with children ages 6 and less are 13 pptless likely to work in CS jobs than men with young children.


Working in CS/IT Jobs: Full-Time Workers





Female -0.048*** -0.080*** -0.020* -0.043**Hispanic -0.048*** -0.033* -0.134*** -0.126***Black -0.103*** -0.091*** -0.108*** -0.095***Married -0.019 -0.008# Children -0.052*** -0.017***Children <6 0.059*** 0.070***Fem*Married 0.077** 0.061*Fem*#Kids 0.044*** 0.002 Fem*Kids<6 -0.057* -0.043*

* p<.05 ** p<.01 ***p<.001

Single Women are 5-8 percentage points less likely to work in CS/IT Jobs. Women with children ages 6 and less are 13 pptless likely to work in CS jobs than men with young children.


Do Women Leave for Other Jobs?

Women significantly more likely to be out of labor force than men. This trend has accelerated in the most-recent decade.


Probit Results: Not Working 0-5 Years

Experience0-5 Years

Experience6-10 Years Experience


Female 0.033*** -0.000 0.074*** 0.005Hispanic 0.005 0.006 -0.011** -0.011**Black -0.008* -0.005 -0.014*** -0.012**Married 0.013*** -0.014* 0.010** -0.010# Children -0.000 -0.010** 0.006*** -0.004Children <6 0.025*** 0.018** 0.017*** -0.000Fem*Married 0.071*** 0.035*** Fem*#Kids 0.015*** 0.015*** Fem*Kids<6 0.009 0.031***

* p<.05 ** p<.01 ***p<.001

Women’s not working completely explained by marriage, children and young children.


Hazard of Exit Over Time Has Changed

Women more likely to leave if included all exits. If limit sample to full-time, Women and Men Equally likely to exit years 5-15 in 1993; Women slightly more likely in 2003; By 2013 Women significantly more likely to leave.


Hazard of Exiting CS/IT Jobs1990s 1990s 2000s 2000s

Female 1.205*** 1.091 1.186*** 0.882Hispanic 1.384*** 1.727*** 1.235** 1.772*** Black 1.229* 1.492*** 1.091 1.424*** Married 0.839* 0.706*** 0.928 0.715*** # Children 1.001 0.845*** 1.009 0.967Children <6 1.154* 5.156*** 1.138** 1.598*** Lag Salary 0.764*** 0.901***Fem*Married 1.082 1.347**Fem*#Kids 0.982 0.941 Fem*Kids<6 1.260* 1.489***

Works * p<.05 ** p<.01 ***p<.001

Women 21% more likely to exit CS/IT Occupations in 2000 decade. Women with young children are 49% more likely to exit.


Labor Supply of CS/IT MajorsYears past Degree

3-4 Years 5-6 Years 9-10 Years

Share Not WorkingWomen 17.3% 16.8% 22.2%Men 9.6% 5.8% 5.5%Share Working Part-TimeWomen 11.2% 4.9% 5.7%Men 6.7% 5.8% 4.4%Share Job Closely Related to DegreeWomen 73.6% 62.7% 64.1%Men 68.1% 66.9% 71.0%Share Work Activities Computer-RelatedWomen 54.4% 54.4% 41.1%Men 72.8% 67.2% 72.1%

Over time, women drop out of labor force and abandon CS/IT work.


Why are women leaving CS/IT?


CS/IT Majors Reasons Leaving Labor Force

Over half of women report not working for family reasons (36%) or not wanting/needing to work (17%)


CS/IT Majors Reasons Working Part-time

Women report family responsibilities (27%) or not wanting/needing to work full-time (21%)


CS/IT Majors Reasons Working Outside of Field

Women & Men report very similar reasons, but 16% of women report career change & 13% report family reasons.


Hazard of Entering CS/IT Jobs1990s 1990s 2000s 2000s

Female 0.604*** 0.555*** 0.552*** 0.508***Hispanic 1.008 1.008 1.143 1.143Black 1.033 1.043 1.653*** 1.665**Married 0.723*** 0.665*** 0.655*** 0.614***# Children 0.720*** 0.733*** 0.839*** 0.841***Children <6 6.311*** 6.670*** 1.873*** 1.931***Spouse Wks 0.944 0.945 0.964 0.939Fem*Married 1.364 1.177Fem*#Kids 0.935 1.000Fem*Kids<6 0.803 0.910Fem*Spouse 0.991 1.000

Works * p<.05 ** p<.01 ***p<.001Women 40 – 50 % less likely to enter CS/IT Occupations. Men with young children are more likely to enter.


Is CS/IT Different from Engineering?

• Kahn & Ginther (2015) found no discernable time pattern in women leaving engineering.

• Marriage and young children associated with leaving engineering.

• Ginther & Kahn (forthcoming) engineering & CS/IT have different education-workforce trajectories.


Other Factors Associated with Women’s High-Skilled Employment

Hunt (2016) found that engineering & CS combined more likely to leave STEM jobs.• Found no effect of children.

Lourdan & Pischke (2016), Hunt (2016)• Share of males in major / occupation

associated with fewer women Goldin & coauthor’s argument: demand

for hours of work and lack of flexibility associated with fewer women.


Difference-in-differences Approach

Hunt (2016) employed DID strategy comparing Science fields to “Engineering”

Limit the sample to majors in engineering and CS/IT

Examine whether Female interacted with:• Computer Science, Hours, Share of

Males, Share of Immigrants in field of highest degree have any explanatory power


DID Estimates of Working in CS/Engineering Occupation

Working in CS/Engineering

Males Hours Immigrants

ChildrenImmigrants

Female -0.030 -0.033*** -0.001 0.048***

Female * Computer Science -0.046*** -0.039*** -0.017* -0.033***

Share of Males 0.154***

Female * Share of Males -0.057

Hours of Work 0.000

Female * Hours of Work -0.001***

Share of Immigrants -0.255*** -0.260***

Female * Share of Immigrants -0.349*** -0.288***

Female * Has children -0.142***

Female *Young Children -0.031**

Female * Children * CS/IT 0.073***Female * Young children * CS/IT -0.023


Why the Dearth of Women in CS/IT?

• Women Don’t Study CS/IT• Math Preparation

• Bias/Culture?• Preferences

• Occupational Personality

• Correlated with University Type.

• Numbers of Women Studying CS/IT has fallen from peak in 1980s.


Why the Dearth of Women in CS/IT?

• Women Who Do Study CS/IT are more likely to leave CS/IT Jobs & the Labor Force.

• Estimates and Self-Reported Results are consistent:• Young Children• Spouse Working • Family Responsibilities


Women are Less Likely to Enter or Return

• Women not originally in CS/IT at years 0-5 are significantly less likely than men to enter CS/IT Occupations.


Women are Significantly More Likely to Leave CS/IT than Engineering

Hunt (2016) grouped CS/IT with Engineering. This was a mistake. • Women are more likely to leave CS/IT

than engineering Share of males does not explain leaving CS

or Engineering.• Contrary to both Hunt (2016) and

Lourdan & Pischke (2016)



Hours of work only has a slight impact• Goldin argued that long hours and lack

of flexibility drive women into professions like pharmacy.

• But CS could potentially be very flexible Share of immigrants has a large impact on

men (-26 ppt.) and women (-35 ppt)• Consistent with Orresius & Zavodny

(2015)



Children reduce the likelihood that women in engineering are working in their field• Consistent with Kahn & Ginther (2015)

• Childless women are more likely to work in engineering

DDD estimates show that young children increase the likelihood of women working CS/IT

Share of immigrants still has a large impact on men (-26 ppt.) and women (-39 ppt)


Avenues for Future Research

The relationship between institution and share of female majors is intriguing • Does having foreign TAs discourage

women? Make the climate less inviting? Why are women less likely to major in CS/IT

at the most selective institutions?• Is this because women don’t compete?• Fear of the B-?



Identify the causal effect of immigrants on CS/IT majors and employment

Do H1B Visas also influence women’s employment in CS/IT occupations?• The supply shock of immigrants could

reduce worker’s bargaining power in CS/IT jobs making them less attractive to US Natives.



Given the media accounts, CS/IT occupations do not appear to be welcoming to women.

How can we measure the impact of workplace “climate” on women’s careers?

CS/IT is another sector where there appears to be considerable education/employment mismatch.


Conclusions

Documents

Why Do Women Leave Computer Science and Information ...€¦ · Science & Engineering Statistical Data System (SESTAT) 1993-2013 • Individuals with majors or working in science,