Employers who automate recruitment need to guard against
unexpected bias
HR professionals are in the front line in the battle against
discrimination, working to ensure that their organisations treat
employees and job applicants without bias. This battle has a long
way to go.
The average white job hunter in France gets 83 per cent more
callbacks after interviews than a non-white applicant, according to
a study led by Northwestern University that was published over the
summer. Even in the US – where hiring by large employers is
subject to strict racial monitoring in an attempt to eradicate bias
– white applicants get 33 per cent more callbacks, the study
said.
Historically, legislation was seen as the answer. Most developed
countries make discrimination illegal around protected
characteristics like gender, disability, age, ethnicity and sexual
orientation. However, technology is now often heralded as the
saviour, particularly in relation to unfairness in
