Workforce diversity and earnings differentials in Canadian nursing

Area of Science:

• Health Workforce Research
• Socioeconomic Health Disparities
• Nursing Economics

Background:

• Persistent gender wage gaps exist in the global health workforce, particularly in nursing.
• Limited data addresses wage inequalities for gender, sexual, and racial-ethnic minority nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if nurses from diverse backgrounds receive equitable pay for similar work.
• To analyze compensation disparities within the Canadian nursing workforce based on identity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2021 Canadian Population Census microdata, including information on gender identity, ethnicity, and employment.
• Assessed the demographic representation of the nursing workforce compared to the general population.
• Employed log-linear regression to analyze annual earnings, controlling for personal and professional factors.

Main Results:

• Cisgender women and transgender men nurses earned less than cisgender men nurses; transgender women nurses did not show a significant difference.
• Black nurses experienced a wider earnings gap compared to White nurses, while Filipino nurses had a narrower gap.
• Representation of cisgender women and transgender men nurses exceeded population shares, while cisgender men, transgender men, and non-binary individuals were under-represented.

Conclusions:

• Nursing labor market outcomes vary significantly by gender and ethnocultural diversity.
• One-size-fits-all policies are insufficient for achieving equity and inclusion in the nursing workforce.
• Addressing diverse barriers is crucial for meeting evolving societal health demands.