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Increasing Workplace Diversity: Evidence from a Recruiting Experiment at a Fortune 500 Company

Author

Listed:
  • Jeffrey A. Flory
  • Andreas Leibbrandt
  • Christina Rott
  • Olga Stoddard

Abstract

While many firms have set ambitious goals to increase diversity in their ranks, there is a dearth of empirical evidence on effective ways to reach them. We use a natural field experiment to test several hypotheses on effective means to attract minority candidates for top professional careers. By randomly varying the content in recruiting materials of a major financial services corporation with more than 10,000 employees, we find that signaling explicit interest in employee diversity more than doubles the interest in openings among racial minority candidates, as well as the likelihood that they apply and are selected. Impacts on gender diversity are less sharp and generally not significant.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey A. Flory & Andreas Leibbrandt & Christina Rott & Olga Stoddard, 2021. "Increasing Workplace Diversity: Evidence from a Recruiting Experiment at a Fortune 500 Company," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 56(1), pages 73-92.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:56:y:2021:i:1:p:73-92
    Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.56.1.0518-9489R1
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    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/56/1/73
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    Cited by:

    1. Katherine B. Coffman & Manuela R. Collis & Leena Kulkarni, 2024. "Whether to Apply," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 70(7), pages 4649-4669, July.
    2. Tatiana Mocanu, 2024. "Designing Gender Equity: Evidence from Hiring Practices," CESifo Working Paper Series 11523, CESifo.
    3. Abraham, Lisa & Hallermeier, Johannes & Stein, Alison, 2024. "Words matter: Experimental evidence from job applications," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 348-391.
    4. Lima de Miranda, Katharina & Detlefsen, Lena & Schmidt, Ulrich, 2025. "Can gender diversity prevent risky choice shifts? The effect of gender composition on group decisions under risk," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 330837, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
    5. Christopher T. Bennett, 2023. "Labor Market Returns to MBAs From Less‐Selective Universities: Evidence From a Field Experiment During COVID‐19," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(2), pages 525-551, March.
    6. Ángel Acevedo-Duque & Romel Gonzalez-Diaz & Elena Cachicatari Vargas & Anherys Paz-Marcano & Sheyla Muller-Pérez & Guido Salazar-Sepúlveda & Giulia Caruso & Idiano D’Adamo, 2021. "Resilience, Leadership and Female Entrepreneurship within the Context of SMEs: Evidence from Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Leibbrandt, Andreas & List, John A., 2025. "Do equal employment opportunity statements encourage racial minorities? evidence from a large natural field experiment," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    8. Larissa Fuchs & Matthias Heinz & Pia Pinger & Max Thon, 2024. "How to Attract Talent? Field-Experimental Evidence on Emphasizing Flexibility and Career Opportunities in Job Advertisements," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 332, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    9. Flory, Jeffrey A. & Leibbrandt, Andreas & Rott, Christina & Stoddard, Olga B., 2021. "Signals from On High and the Power of Growth Mindset: A Natural Field Experiment in Attracting Minorities to High-Profile Positions," IZA Discussion Papers 14383, IZA Network @ LISER.
    10. Andreas Leibbrandt & John A. List, 2018. "Do Equal Employment Opportunity Statements Backfire? Evidence From A Natural Field Experiment On Job-Entry Decisions," NBER Working Papers 25035, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. Alexia Delfino, 2024. "Breaking Gender Barriers: Experimental Evidence on Men in Pink-Collar Jobs," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 114(6), pages 1816-1853, June.
    12. Romney, Alexander C. & Allen, Joseph A. & Heydarifard, Zahra, 2025. "Meeting load paradox: Balancing the benefits and burdens of work meetings," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 33-43.
    13. Jeffrey A. Flory & Andreas Leibbrandt & Christina Rott & Olga Stoddard, 2024. "Leader Signals and “Growth Mindset”: A Natural Field Experiment in Attracting Minorities to High-Profile Positions," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 70(8), pages 4953-4973, August.
    14. Dustan, Andrew & Koutout, Kristine & Leo, Greg, 2022. "Second-order beliefs and gender," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 752-781.
    15. Mocanu, Tatiana, 2024. "Designing Gender Equity: Evidence from Hiring Practices," IZA Discussion Papers 17480, IZA Network @ LISER.
    16. Nils Kruse, 2024. "How does corporate social performance affect (prospective) employees? A systematic literature review of experimental studies," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(11), pages 3085-3140, November.
    17. Subedi, Mukti Nath & Rafiq, Shuddhasattwa & Ulker, Aydogan, 2022. "Effects of Affirmative Action on Educational and Labour Market Outcomes: Evidence from Nepal's Reservation Policy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 443-463.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis

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