AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
Are Some Firms Better for Women's Careers?
AEA Papers and Proceedings
(pp. 232–37)
Abstract
This paper examines whether some firms are systematically better at advancing women's careers, focusing on India's corporate sector. Using an identification strategy based on firms' first-recruitment events at universities, we compare women who join top-ranked female-friendly firms to peers from prior cohorts. Drawing on LinkedIn career histories, we find that women who start at these firms are significantly more likely to remain at their initial employer, advance to management positions, and take on roles requiring abstract tasks. These effects persist eight years after graduation, suggesting that early placement at supportive firms can have lasting impacts on women's career trajectories.Citation
Sharma, Garima ⓡ Shreya Tandon ⓡ Lisa Ho ⓡ Pulak Ghosh ⓡ Stephanie Hao. 2025. "Are Some Firms Better for Women's Careers?" AEA Papers and Proceedings 115: 232–37. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20251013Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D22 Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
- J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
- J22 Time Allocation and Labor Supply
- J23 Labor Demand
- M51 Personnel Economics: Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions
- O14 Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration