Geographical Gender Gap: Analyzing the Job Search Radii of College Graduates in 2026
In 2026, a significant disparity remains between men and women regarding their job search behaviors after graduation. Specifically, men are moving 16 percent farther than women for their first jobs.
And it’s not just about salaries.
The 15.6 percent difference refers to the distance traveled — men typically relocate further than women when starting their careers.
Recent studies indicate that while the gender pay gap among millennials continues to shrink, with men earning approximately 10 percent more than women aged 20 to 35, the question remains: why does this gap persist?
Our analysis suggests that this discrepancy may partially stem from the geographic mobility of graduates. If women were to broaden their job search radius to align with that of their male peers, they may significantly reduce the existing gender pay gap.
Insights from the Data
The noted 15.6 percent difference translates to a 52-mile greater job search radius for men. Visualization of this difference is depicted below:
Our research utilized data from over 115,000 resumes — 54,000 women and 61,000 men — revealing that women on average relocate 318 miles from their college for their first jobs, compared to men who move 370 miles.
A visual representation of the search areas is shown below:
The outer ring illustrates the additional 52 miles men travel from Philadelphia, unlocking potential opportunities in cities like Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Cleveland, Toronto, and Portland.
According to Census data, this broader search area correlates with an additional 3,873,908 total job opportunities, distributed as follows:
- 207,260 jobs in professional, scientific, and technical services
- 599,984 jobs in healthcare and social services
- 185,007 jobs in public administration
The implications of these findings are substantial, warranting a deeper investigation into the underlying factors.
Distance Breakdown by Major
To further analyze the data, we examined job search distances across various majors to determine if certain fields influenced the results.
We recognized the potential for skewed data due to smaller, predominantly male majors with high relocation rates, such as Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, where 89 percent of graduates are men and the average first job distance is 856 miles.
To mitigate this bias, we excluded majors lacking at least ten observations for both genders.
Here’s a summary of the distances men and women travel for their first jobs across the top twenty majors:
The data indicates that men travel a greater average distance for their first jobs across the majority of majors, confirming that the trend is not driven by outlier fields.
Moreover, this pattern remains consistent across all 160 academic majors analyzed — men tend to relocate more for their initial employment across the board, including in traditionally female-dominated fields like nursing and education.
Examining the Reasons Behind the Gap
So, what accounts for this discrepancy?
On initial observation, it appeared that women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields relocate more than their male counterparts. However, a closer examination reveals that men still travel farther on average, even within STEM disciplines.
Interestingly, while women with STEM degrees travel an average of 349 miles for their first jobs compared to 318 miles for non-STEM women, men with STEM degrees only exceed their non-STEM counterparts by two miles. Additionally, STEM roles tend to feature a narrower gender pay gap.
This raises an important consideration: despite the field’s male dominance, STEM professions offer better wage equity for women, along with greater relocation distances for female graduates.
While we cannot definitively establish correlation without salary data, broadening one’s job search radius appears crucial for pursuing competitive majors.
This Acknowledges Workplace Discrimination Still Exists
It’s essential to clarify that our findings do not negate the reality of workplace discrimination.
Men may be more inclined to decline offers that require relocation, feeling less pressure due to perceived job security, while women might worry that rejecting a position reinforces negative stereotypes about their commitment.
The Department of Commerce has publicly recognized the gender imbalances present in STEM fields:
“Numerous factors contribute to the gender disparities in STEM occupations, including a lack of female role models, pervasive gender stereotypes, and insufficient family-friendly flexibility.”
Is It Really Just a Man’s World?
The data suggests a resounding no.
Both genders are increasingly moving towards balanced career roles and salary paths.
A recent EY report reveals that more men than women are willing to change jobs for better work-life balance, and the gender pay gap has hit an unprecedented low.
Furthermore, a study by Mayflower Moving found that over half of millennial men are open to relocating to support their female partner’s career. According to Mayflower:
“Millennial men reported being more ‘confident’ (45 percent) and ‘happy’ (64 percent) about relocating for love, compared to millennial women, of whom only 25 percent felt ‘confident’ and 50 percent felt ‘happy.’”
So, are men generally more willing to move? Consider the Business Administration Majors, the most common degree in the nation, which comprises 10 percent of our sample — even with a higher male graduation rate, men only travel an additional 20 miles on average for their first jobs.
This willingness to relocate can lead to more lucrative job prospects.
Author
David Luther was the Content Marketing Editor for the Zippia Advice blog. He developed partnerships with external reporting agencies in addition to generating original research and reporting for the Zippia Career Advice blog. David obtained his BA from UNC Chapel Hill.
