Jewish Americans have 24-percent harder time applying to jobs; Israeli Americans have a 39-percent harder time
New York, NY, December 4, 2024 … Jewish American job candidates needed to send 24 percent more applications to receive the same number of positive first responses from prospective employers as Americans with Western European backgrounds when applying to the same role, according to a study published today by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Center for Antisemitism Research. Further, Israeli Americans needed to send 39 percent more applications, indicating substantial discrimination.
For this study, leading labor economist Bryan Tomlin, PhD, independently conducted a field experiment applying online for administrative assistant job postings using resumés that were identical except for specific characteristics, including names, that signal if the applicants were Jewish American, Israeli American, or American with Western European backgrounds.
“This is groundbreaking evidence of serious antisemitic discrimination in the labor market,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “On top of increasing antisemitic incidents and growing antisemitic beliefs, this landmark study illustrates the very real need for employers to take anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli prejudice more seriously to have a workplace that works for everyone.”
“Without the benefit of a study of this kind, it is difficult, if not impossible, to prove adverse treatment in the labor market based on one’s religion or cultural identity,” said Tomlin. “This study shows that Jewish and Israeli Americans may be missing out on job opportunities just because of their identity, not their qualifications, and it provides a start toward quantifying some of these more subtle but still harmful symptoms of antisemitism.”
Tomlin conducted a pre-registered, large sample, field experiment, sending 3,000 inquiries to administrative assistance job postings across the United States between May 2024 and Oct. 2024 using identical email text and resumés that differed only in (a) the name of the applicant – selected to “sound” Jewish, Israeli, or Western European – and (b) resumé signals of likely Jewish, Israeli, or Western European background. This methodology follows an approach similar to that utilized by other correspondence-based field experiments in the labor market.
The ADL Center for Antisemitism Research (CAR) builds upon ADL’s antisemitism expertise through an applied research network, innovative initiatives and signature projects to evaluate and identify what makes a difference in the fight against this hatred. The Center catalyzes and conducts scholarly investigation into key areas on antisemitism by sponsoring fellowships and grants, conducting ADL’s own empirical research and organizing speaker series and publications.
About ADL
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.
About Bryan Tomlin, PhD
Bryan Tomlin is a Professor of Economics and Chair of the Department of Economics in the Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics at California State University Channel Islands. Dr. Tomlin’s primary research agenda attempts to identify the symptoms (and occasionally the causes) of discrimination in housing and labor markets. This work has examined differential treatment of African Americans, single mothers, disabled people, the trans community, stay-at-home mothers, and Jewish and Israeli people. As an applied econometrician, Dr. Tomlin’s academic research also covers a wide breadth of interdisciplinary topics, including collaborations with medical researchers (studying the effectiveness of various cancer treatments), climate scientists (studying the effect of climate change on ocean life around California's Channel Islands), and educational researchers (studying the effect of SCOTUS rulings on litigation outcomes related to special education). As a consultant, Dr. Tomlin works in both antitrust and labor class action litigation, performing econometric analyses and assisting in the authoring of expert reports.