Gender differences in the returns on human capital in the Spanish hospitality sector

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse possible gender differences in the relative impact of human capital, personal and labour variables on wages in the Spanish hospitality sector. An expanded version of Mincer's wage equation and data from the 2014 Wage Structure Survey are used. The results show significant gender differences in the estimates of all the variables considered in the hospitality sector. Nevertheless, no differences were found in the returns on education between men and women in the rest of private services sector. With regards women in the hospitality sector, human capital factors do not contribute significantly to increasing their wages. In addition, the evidence suggests that these women are subject to job insecurity and time-related underemployment situations, and also suffer from discrimination at work.