Hiring Discrimination in Higher Education and Research[Les discriminations à l’embauche dans l’enseignement supérieur et la recherche]

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.