The persistence of pay inequality: The gender pay gap in an anonymous online labor market

The US is witnessing a dramatic rise in nontraditional 'gig economy' labor markets. Research examined the work of over 20,000 men and women completing over 5 million tasks online, and found a gender pay gap not accounted for by demographics, task preferences, or experience. On average, women's hourly earnings were 10.5% lower than men's. This is the first study to provide evidence that pay gaps can arise despite the absence of overt discrimination, labor segregation, and inflexible work arrangements.