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.
