Did Digitalisation Narrow the Gender Wage Gap? Evidence from China

This study aims to explore whether and how digitalization affects the gender wage gap in China. Using data from six waves of the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), namely 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2021, and integrating provincial-level digitalization indices, an empirical model is constructed to examine the moderating effect of gender on the impact of digitalization on wages.The research results show that the level of digitalization has narrowed the gender wage gap, and its impact exhibits significant regional heterogeneity. Specifically, the benefits of digitalization in promoting gender equity in wages are more evident in western China, while in the more developed eastern and central regions, digitalization has no significant moderating effect. The root cause of such regional differences lies in the disparities across regions in women’s digital skill reserves, labor market structure, and the alignment between digitalization and local industries. This study provides empirical evidence for understanding the relationship between digitalization and gender equality in China’s labor market.