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LinkedOut? A Field Experiment on Discrimination in Job Network Formation

Author

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  • Yulia Evsyukova
  • Felix Rusche
  • Wladislaw Mill

Abstract

We assess the impact of discrimination on Black individuals’ job networks across the United States using a two-stage field experiment with 400+ fictitious LinkedIn profiles. In the first stage, we vary race via AI-generated images only and find that Black profiles’ connection requests are 13% less likely to be accepted. Based on users’ CVs, we find widespread discrimination across social groups. In the second stage, we exogenously endow Black and white profiles with the same networks and ask connected users for career advice. We find no evidence of direct discrimination in information provision. However, when taking into account differences in the composition and size of networks, Black profiles receive substantially fewer replies. Our findings suggest that gatekeeping is a key driver of Black–white disparities.

Suggested Citation

  • Yulia Evsyukova & Felix Rusche & Wladislaw Mill, 2025. "LinkedOut? A Field Experiment on Discrimination in Job Network Formation," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 140(1), pages 283-334.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:qjecon:v:140:y:2025:i:1:p:283-334.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/qje/qjae035
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    Cited by:

    1. Asad, Sher Afghan & Ahmad, Husnain Fateh & Majid, Hadia, 2025. "Price and prejudice: Gender discrimination in online marketplaces," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Vojtech Bartos & Ulrich Glogowsky & Johannes Rincke, 2025. "The Color of Knowledge: Impacts of Tutor Race on Learning and Performance," CESifo Working Paper Series 12352, CESifo.
    3. David Dorn & Florian Schoner & Moritz Seebacher & Lisa Simon & Ludger Woessmann, 2024. "Multidimensional Skills on LinkedIn Profiles: Measuring Human Capital and the Gender Skill Gap," Papers 2409.18638, arXiv.org, revised May 2025.
    4. Gagnon, Nickolas & Nosenzo, Daniele, 2025. "Discrimination Preferences," EconStor Preprints 323979, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    5. Kensuke Sakamoto & Yuya Shimizu, 2025. "Design-Based and Network Sampling-Based Uncertainties in Network Experiments," Papers 2506.22989, arXiv.org, revised Sep 2025.
    6. Reca Sarfati & Vod Vilfort, 2025. ""Post" Pre-Analysis Plans: Valid Inference for Non-Preregistered Specifications," Papers 2510.02507, arXiv.org.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • J46 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Informal Labor Market
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation

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