Dive Brief:

• The contraction of certain male-dominated industries may be driving men into industries typically dominated by women, such as health and education, according to a study published in the January 2020 Social Science Research journal.
• When men move into women-heavy fields, their wages increase by 3.8% on average, the research revealed, citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
• "Accordingly, this study reveals a critical occupational route that may allow men to remain upwardly mobile after involuntary unemployment," the study concluded.

Dive Insight:

Along with the education and health care industries, HR is a female-dominated profession. In fact, a study from HR platform Namely showed that women account for 71% of HR professionals, and most of them are white.

The study also revealed that female HR managers earned on average $91,981 a year, while their male counterparts earned an average of $103,644. If low unemployment continues and the most recent study's findings hold true, HR may see an impact as well, perhaps necessitating pay equity audits.

At the same time, a report from the McKinsey Global Institute suggests that automation and artificial intelligence could force women working in jobs vulnerable to automation either to acquire higher-level skills, experience bigger wage gaps and lower career-advancement opportunities or be replaced in the workforce.