Global Journal of Human Social Science, E: Economics, Volume 23 Issue 3

b) Female Source: PNAD data. Figure 3: Wage differentials by occupations groups, Brazil, 1985-2015 From 1985 to 2015, the incorporation of new technologies and the increase of qualification levels to Brazilian labor market contributed to reduce income inequality, different from what has been happening in more developed countries as shown by Goldin and Katz (2009), Autor (2014) and Coelli and Borland (2015). During the studied period it was observed an increase in average wages associated to reduction of inequality, especially among the occupations. Evidences suggest that employment polarization in more abstract and manual activities is more evident among women and it was followed by changes on more favorable wages on these categories. For men, employment replacement was more substantial from agricultural activities to production and operation, in other words, in occupational groups with routine and manual activities. For that matter, the demand for workers on occupations with less or more qualification was more evident for women than for men. VI. C onclusions This paper aimed to analyze modifications on occupational structure of Brazilian labor market, trying to verify the hypothesis of occupational polarization and its effects educational level for workers, what is aligned to the amplification of demand for more qualified work. The evidence points to substantial changes in employment between occupational groups, and a reduction in inequality in wage distribution. Among men, the change of jobs from agricultural activities to production and operation, which are routine and manual activities, is more substantial. On the other hand, women increased their participation in the labor market, especially in professional, technical, sales and basic services occupations. The results suggest that while men were allocated to more typically male occupations, such as production and operations, women were allocated to more typically female occupations, such as services, professionals, and technicians. Thus, it is possible to say that occupational polarization on Brazilian labor market is more evident among women then among men. During the analyzed decades, wage inequality on Brazilian labor market and among occupations was reduced, especially among women. The results indicate a reduction in gender wage differentials, which contributes to the reduction of inequality in wage distribution and better social well-being. However, despite the reduction, there was still a substantial wage differential among genders. Thus, it was verified that the incorporation of new technologies and the increase of qualification on Brazilian labor market contributed to reduce wage inequality during the studied period. The evidences shown that there is a complementary between technology and skilled work. Also, during the past decades, the structure of Brazilian labor market has been relevantly modified as consequence of the technological advancement. In this context, it is understood that there is polarization on labor market when there are occupations with rising demand, especially occupations that perform tasks considered manual and abstract, in other words, tasks that cannot be perfectly replaced by technology. On the other hand, there are occupations with reduced demand, mainly tasks considered routine, as agriculture. These changes affected men more intensely, who had greater relative participation on labor market; on their turn, women engaged on occupations with more abstract and manual tasks, both non routine. This way, for planning and public policies management, it is relevant to know the demand profile for particular positions. Through this information it is possible to create policies in order to stimulate and © 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue III Version I 19 Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 ( )E Occupational Polarization in Brazilian Labor Market, 1985-2015