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Hiring Discrimination in Higher Education and Research

Author

Listed:
  • Laetitia Challe
  • Yannick L’Horty
  • Pascale Petit
  • François-Charles Wolff

Abstract

[eng] Discrimination in access to employment in the higher education and research sector is measured using a correspondence test. Two criteria are tested: the applicants’ gender and their origin (either French or North African) for two occupations, administrative assistant and administrative and financial executive, using two testing methods, responding to job offers and sending unsolicited applications to recruiters. In total, the study compiles the results of 2,748 job applications sent in 2021 and 2022 to higher education and research institutions in France. The two correspondence test methods revealed no evidence of gender-based discrimination for either occupation. However, in this sector, where principles of equality and integrity are expected to prevail, the study identifies evidence of discrimination against applicants of North African origin for administrative assistant positions, at a level comparable to that observed across the public sector as a whole.

Suggested Citation

  • Laetitia Challe & Yannick L’Horty & Pascale Petit & François-Charles Wolff, 2025. "Hiring Discrimination in Higher Education and Research," Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), issue 548, pages 3-25.
    • Handle: RePEc:nse:ecosta:ecostat_2025_548_1
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.24187/ecostat.2025.548.2139
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sylvain Chareyron & Yannick L’Horty & Pascale Petit, 2023. "Cream skimming and discrimination in access to medical care: A field experiment," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(8), pages 1868-1883, August.
    2. Laetitia Challe & Yannick L’Horty & Pascale Petit & François-Charles Wolff, 2024. "Cyclical behavior of hiring discrimination: evidence from repeated experiments in France," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 72(3), pages 711-733, March.
    3. Lippens, Louis & Vermeiren, Siel & Baert, Stijn, 2023. "The state of hiring discrimination: A meta-analysis of (almost) all recent correspondence experiments," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Young, Alwyn, 2019. "Channeling Fisher: randomization tests and the statistical insignificance of seemingly significant experimental results," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101401, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Alwyn Young, 2019. "Channeling Fisher: Randomization Tests and the Statistical Insignificance of Seemingly Significant Experimental Results," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(2), pages 557-598.
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