Labor force experiences of nonmetropolitan women

Data from a 1980 mail survey of nonmetropolitan households in Kentucky were used to examine the employment patterns of nonmetropolitan women and to suggest individual and structural explanations for the range of womens labor force experiences. The 1538 respondents were classified according to whether they worked fulltime or part-time and whether they resided in Appalachian or non-Appalachian counties. Overall the female labor force participation rate in this study was 48% with no significant differences in employment patterns between Appalachian and non-Appalachian women. Fulltime workers had higher levels of educational attainment than part-time workers and were less likely to be married or widowed had lower parity levels and were more likely to live on farms. Multivariate analysis indicated that education is the most important background characteristic influencing employment and has a significant positive effect on income occupational prestige and percent female in occupation. The results suggest that the opportunity structure within nonmetropolitan areas is a key factor in determining job characteristics and rewards. Employment in the secondary sector which is the primary arena for female employment in nonmetropolitan areas significantly depressed occupational prestige and increased sex segregation. It is concluded that residential occupational structure and individual factors all contribute to the understanding of the female labor force experience. The finding of no differences between the work experiences of Appalachian and non-Appalachian women indicates that structural and economic characteristics of regions rather than subcultural differences among regions may be the primary causes of labor market characteristics.