Job hopping doesn't pay for some

February 12, 2001

White male managers tend to make more money after job hopping than women and minorities who follow similar career paths, according to a new study in The Academy of Management Journal, a peer-review publication.

The survey of some 700 mid-career MBA graduates with similar backgrounds found that after one or more career moves, white men earned $24,000 more than minority males, $18,000 more than minority females, and $16,000 more than white females.

The study, which examined trends in a range of industries, also noted that women tended to start off with lower salaries, though the reported gaps widened much more after the women had moved around.

Researchers concluded that discrimination was the most likely reason for the pay differences. They added that men, women, and minorities also have different social connections, which play a vital role in how they find out about and assess work opportunities.

In general, job-hopping is still the best way to boost your salary if you work in management, says Ben Haimowitz, spokesman for the Journal. But he also added that women and minorities might find that they benefited just as much by staying in one place.

(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Publishing Society