Linkedout? A Field Experiment on Discrimination in Job Network Formation

We assess the impact of discrimination on Black individuals' job networks across the U.S. using a two-stage  eld experiment with 400+  fictitious LinkedIn pro les. In the  first stage, we vary race via AI-generated images only and  find that Black pro les' connection requests are 13 percent less likely to be accepted. Based on users' CVs, we  find widespread discrimination across social groups. In the second stage, we exogenously endow Black and White pro les with the same networks and ask connected users for career advice. We  find no evidence of direct discrimination in information provision. However, when taking into account differences in the composition and size of networks, Black pro les receive substantially fewer replies. Our  findings suggest that gatekeeping is a key driver of Black-White disparities.

Evsyukova, Yulia, Felix Rusche and Wladislaw Mill (2024), Linkedout? A Field Experiment on Discrimination in Job Network Formation, ZEW Discussion Paper No. 24-069, Mannheim.