Wage Profile and Gender Gap in Science and Technology: Regional Disparities in Brazil

Introduction Economies with a strong STEM component tend to show better economic indicators and perform better in terms of innovation and job creation. However, little is known about wage distribution in STEM in Brazil and how it varies by gender and region. Objective This article aims to investigate the regional distribution and wage premium of the Brazilian STEM workforce, with a specific focus on gender disparities between STEM and non-STEM fields. Methodology Using microdata from the Annual Social Information Report (RAIS), we apply an econometric model that adapts the Oaxaca-Ransom wage decomposition. Results The STEM workforce represents 1.8% of the formal labor market and is unevenly distributed: the highest concentration is in the Southeast, and the lowest in the North and Northeast. Gender gaps in STEM vary by region, being smaller in core STEM areas and larger in those with higher female representation. Moreover, wage premiums are higher in the South than in the North. Conclusion Our findings highlight the geographical distribution of STEM employment across Brazilian regions and the regional differences in fields of knowledge. We observe that men receive higher wage premium than women across a broader range of activities.