Hidden bias in online job ads?
November 19, 2008 by Sam NarisiPosted in: In This Week's E-Newsletter, Latest News & Views, Law, Online recruiting
These days, recruiters don’t think twice about posting open jobs online. But does relying on online ads give the hiring process a hidden bias against minorities?
Yes, if applications are only accepted online, according to a recent study by the JobApp network, a recruitment outsourcing firm.
JobApp’s model allows candidates to apply online or over the phone. To study the effects on different groups, the company looked at the demographics of job seekers who applied online versus those who used the phone.
The results:
- More than 40% of the telephone applications cam from minorities, and
- Minorities made up just 20% of the online applicants.
The notion that an online-only hiring process will adversely impact minorities was often discussed even before there were studies like this to support it.
To reach as diverse an applicant pool as possible, companies may consider accepting applications in a variety of ways.
Tags: discrimination, JobApp, Online recruiting
November 21st, 2008 at 1:55 pm
As long we have an open position all of our locations are instructed to take in-person applications.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:41 am
How can his be discrimination?? Isn’t it the candidates choice whether or not to apply online or over the phone? If the candidate wants the job but refuses to apply online and will only apply over the phone, isn’t that kind of a red flag; the sign of someone who needs everthing to be on his/her own terms? If the job was fairly offered to everyone, I have trouble seeing how the method of application creates bias. Maybe someone can help explain this to me?
September 25th, 2009 at 10:20 am
The bias lies in the application process. Because many minorities may not have access to computers, it creates a barrier to application for them, thus the bias.
September 25th, 2009 at 11:41 am
No pubic libraires, schools or community job placement facilities with computer access? Next we will be required to go door to door asking people if they want to apply for a position. If there is a will, there is a way. Although the government beleives it is the right for every person to be handed a job with little to no effort, it is creating the lazy victimized culture. I bet China and India loves to watch or devolution of work ethic. Power to the medoicore!
September 25th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Sure, access to the Internet and web fluency are not universal. We don’t even teach this to all our students in our education system, just some. By only allowing application online many individuals are eliminated from the applicant pool. For positions that do not require these as prerequisite skills it is inappropriate to presort in this way, particularly since data supports that access has socioeconomic bias, which often directly translates into race, culture, national origin bias. There may also be an embedded age factor and other cultural biases playing a part here. If what you are doing limits access or excludes any group, it certainly seems like bias to me.