Gender Wage Inequality in Thailand

Abstract

Using the national representative Labor Force Surveys, this paper examines trends and heterogeneity in hourly earnings on gender pay gaps of wage workers in Thailand. The decomposition explains the declined gender wage gap from heterogeneity in characteristics of wage workers and from unequal wage structures. The key findings are as follows. First, the empirical evidence shows that female continue to earn less than male. Second, female in particular groups such as those with higher education, holding positions in small firms, or having more years of work experience are paid substantially less than male. Third, while the inequality persists, the overall gap has narrowed down in recent years.