Jewish job seekers face discrimination in job applications.
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A concerning study by the Anti-Defamation League reveals job seekers with Jewish-sounding names or Jewish-affiliated work experience faced discrimination when applying for administrative assistant positions.
The research, involving 3,000 job applications submitted through Craigslist.org across 23 U.S. cities from May to October, showed Jewish Americans and Israeli Americans experienced notably lower response rates compared to applicants with Italian or Irish backgrounds.
A new study published by the @ADL concluded that Jewish and Israeli Americans face “substantial” discrimination in the labor markethttps://t.co/10NKAGZOat
— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) December 4, 2024
The data indicated Jewish Americans received 3.4% fewer responses, while Israeli Americans faced a 4.9% lower response rate. This meant Jewish Americans needed to submit 24% more applications, and Israeli Americans 39% more, to achieve the same number of positive employer responses as other applicants.
“This is groundbreaking evidence of serious antisemitic discrimination in the labor market,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “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.”
The researchers identified candidates as Jewish through names or previous work experiences, such as employment at Jewish delis or involvement with Jewish or Israeli cultural organizations.
Bryan Tomlin, an economics professor at California State University Channel Islands, noted that religious discrimination is often more subtle than overt antisemitism. A recent example emerged when a UCLA official allegedly created a “no hire” list targeting Jewish applicants after complaining about “lots of zionists” seeking employment.
The study coincides with the ADL’s report of over 10,000 antisemitic incidents nationwide in the past year – a 200% increase and the highest ever recorded. Much of this surge occurred on college campuses following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
New Report Alert! If you’ve ever felt discriminated against when applying for a job because you’re Jewish or Israeli…? ADL’s latest report uncovers substantial discrimination against you in the U.S. job market.
Read the full report: https://t.co/aREb0R8p65 pic.twitter.com/hjkNKPiNGH
— ADL Desert (@ADLDesert) December 4, 2024
“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,” Tomlin said. “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 these more subtle but still harmful symptoms of antisemitism.”
The research spanned major cities nationwide, with Seattle showing the most severe discrimination against Israeli applicants, who were 16.3% less likely to receive positive responses compared to others.
