Gender wage differences in Nigerian self and paid employment: Do marriage and children matter?

Abstract

This article investigates gender differences in Nigeria, in the impact of marriage and children on location in the self or waged employment sector, and on income from work. Findings show that the pay structure varies across employment sectors – waged and self-employed – and that the determinants of employment sector vary by gender and family roles. Differences in human capital investment and geopolitical zones also need to be considered. The estimates in the study reveal that there is a marriage premium for both males and females in the waged labour market, but partially support Becker’s (1991) gender-based household specialisation model in terms of the relative incidence of self-employment. There is a wage penalty for married women with children in the paid-employment labour market, but motherhood is also negatively associated with income levels for self-employed women. We also find a fatherhood penalty for paid-employed men. Nevertheless, overall, the gender difference is higher in relatively less regulated self-employment compared to the more regulated paid employment labour market. Findings therefore offer some policy inputs but also suggest the need for further research into the causes of the gender pay gap in self- and paid employment, and thus into the overall wage gap in Nigeria that inhibits women’s labour market participation and welfare.

Sectoral choices and wage differences among Nigerian public, private and self-employees

“…These studies find that the African labour market is heterogeneous in terms of employment sectors and differences in participation in various employment categories. Studies on labour market analysis in Nigeria include Temesgen (2008), Ogwumike et al (2006), Jonah and Yousuo (2013), Aminu (2010), Okuwa (2004), Aromolaran (2006); Aderemi (2015) and Nwaka et al (2016).…”

Education and labor market activity of women: The case of Botswana

“…This has also been re‐iterated by Glick and Sahn () that education is important in determining which portion of the labor market an individual participates in. Similar African studies include the ones by Vijverberg () for Cote d'Ivoire; and Nwaka, Guven‐Lisaniler, and Tuna () for Nigeria which posited that education is an essential determinant of participation for women in paid employment. A general observation is that education serves as an essential job requirement, hence it coaxes women into seeking employment.…”

What are the triggers of household decision-making on waste disposal choices? A gender differentiated analysis

“…Additionally, the pooled estimation method by the use of a gender dummy indicator only assumes a homogenous slope of covariates in refuse disposal choices. Given societal differences in gender roles across households, studies have shown that the FHHs are relatively poorer with lower economic status than MHHS counterparts ( Nwaka et al., 2016 , 2020a , 2020b ). Such lower economic status includes constraints related to lower-income to fund family needs including payment for affordable refuse disposal plans, lower educational levels, and unequal concentration across urban and rural areas.…”

“…In developing countries, it is believed that female-headed households are poorer with lower socioeconomic status and are most vulnerable to income shortages than male-headed households ( Mallick and Rafi, 2010 ; Balagtas et al., 2014 ; World Bank 2018 ; Nwaka & Akadiri 2020 ). Several reasons for this are drawn from women's disadvantaged positions in terms of limited economic opportunities to asset ownerships, the family burden associated with unpaid household work, and gender discrimination in the labour market ( Nwaka et al., 2020a ; Nwaka et al., 2016 ; World bank 2018 , Aryal et al., 2019 ) . Is it possible that the existing gender inequality also affects household decision-making outcomes regarding the choices of waste disposal systems ( Foster et al.…”