Researchers Find Gender Pay Gap Among Uber Drivers

A recent paper determined that, after analyzing the data of over a million Uber drivers, male drivers earned 7% more than their female counterparts, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The study, conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, analyzed pay discrepancies in gender among Uber drivers.

The paper found that the pay gap could be attributed to three factors. First, men typically drive faster, allowing for more trips in the same time frame. Second, men usually drive with Uber for longer and with greater frequency, with research finding that drivers with over 2,500 trips completed make 14% more per hour than drivers with fewer than 100 trips. Third, women tend to avoid areas they perceive to be unsafe, while men drive in more lucrative areas.

Uber's algorithm that connects drivers and riders controls for customer bias and discrimination based on gender or tenure, and the app provides flexibility by allowing drivers to work when they want. Rebecca Diamond, a Stanford University economist and one of the paper's researchers, said the study indicates forces beyond discrimination and flexibility affecting the gender pay gap in Uber.

The researchers stated that, based on the findings, experience may be more influential in affecting the pay gap than flexibility, in both gig and non-gig work.

The full paper can be found here.

Related: Uber Disputes MIT Wage Study