Discrimination in hiring: Jewish Americans face tougher job market

Jewish American job seekers must send 24% more applications to receive the same number of positive responses as their Western European-background counterparts when applying for identical roles, according to a new study by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Center for Antisemitism Research.

Israeli Americans face even steeper challenges, needing to submit 39% more applications, highlighting significant bias in the hiring process.

The study, led by labor economist Bryan Tomlin, PhD, involved a field experiment where identical resumés were submitted for administrative assistant positions, differing only in names that signaled Jewish, Israeli, or Western European identities.

“This is groundbreaking evidence of serious antisemitic discrimination in the labor market,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. He emphasized the urgent need for employers to address anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli prejudice to create truly equitable workplaces.

Tomlin noted, “Without studies like this, proving adverse treatment in the labor market based on religion or cultural identity is nearly impossible.” He added that the findings shed light on how Jewish and Israeli Americans may be denied job opportunities due to their identity rather than their qualifications. The research provides critical data to better understand and address these subtle but harmful forms of discrimination.