Employers disfavor Black job candidates

Do employers routinely fail to interview job seekers because they have Black-sounding names?

Yes, according to a newly updated study from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The study authors sent 80,000 fake resumes to 97 organizations that had advertised for entry-level employees. The resumes described candidates who had comparable job qualifications but with applicant names associated with Black or white people, e.g., Lakisha or Allison, Leroy or Adam.

The researchers found that employers reached out to presumed white applicants 9.5% more often than they contacted supposed Black job candidates.

They also learned that the practice of steering clear of job applicants with Black-sounding names was more likely in certain industries, including food stores, food processors, transportation/warehousing and wholesale trade, suggesting that companies in industries that require customer interaction are more likely to disfavor Black job seekers.

Yet the bias existed even when the job positions didn’t require customer interaction, indicating that illegal hiring practices could be baked into corporate cultures.

Action step: When reviewing a resume, focus on the person’s background and qualifications. Steer clear of assumptions about the individual’s race.

(From the July 12, 2024, issue of HR Manager’s Legal Alert for Supervisors. To start your no-obligation trial subscription to the publication right now, please click here.)