Gender Wage Gap in STEM Fields in Mexico

Despite the increasing participation of women in STEM careers and occupations, significant wage disparities persist. This chapter examines the gender wage gap in STEM fields in Mexico between 2005 and 2023. The central hypothesis posits that the gender wage gap is primarily driven by differences in wage returns associated with productive characteristics, as well as by structural factors and discrimination in wage setting. This study draws on data from the National Survey of Occupation and Employment conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, applying the Juhn-Murphy-Pierce wage decomposition methodology to differentiate the share of the gap explained by observable characteristics from that attributable to unobservable factors. Findings indicate that, although the gender wage gap in STEM fields has slightly narrowed, it remains significantly wider than in other sectors. The unexplained component, which points to discrimination or structural inequality, continues to represent a substantial portion of the gap. Moreover, women receive lower wage returns even when possessing similar characteristics to men. These results underscore the need for targeted public policies to promote pay equity and enhance the inclusion of women in high-value-added technological and scientific sectors.