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Fertility Discrimination in Hiring? Evidence from a Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Sascha O. Becker

    (University of Warwick)

  • Ana Fernandes

    (Berner Fachhochschule; University of Fri)

  • Doris Weichselbaumer

    (University of Linz)

Abstract
We conducted a large scale correspondence test in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria to examine whether employers discriminate among job candidates concerning family status. In German speaking countries, CVs routinely include detailed information about the job candidate's personal characteristics. We considered thirty-year-old job applicants seeking secretarial or accounting positions. We found that having a family (indicated by marriage and the presence of children and their ages, or by being married but childless) does not affect the job candidate's chances of being called back for an interview for a full-time job. However, women were significantly less likely to receive a callback compared to men if the applicant's skills were not a good fit for the advertised position, if they lived far from the workplace, or when applying to large companies. Such gender asymmetric callback decisions are likely the result of subconscious decision making. Our results remain even after controlling for differences in the variance of unobservable determinants of productivity across applicants with and without a family.

Suggested Citation

  • Sascha O. Becker & Ana Fernandes & Doris Weichselbaumer, 2018. "Fertility Discrimination in Hiring? Evidence from a Field Experiment," 2018 Meeting Papers 650, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed018:650
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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