Factors Determining Callbacks to Job Applications by the Unemployed: An Audit Study

Henry S. Farber, Dan Silverman and Till von Wachter

No 21689, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We use an audit study approach to investigate how unemployment duration, age, and holding a low-level “interim” job affect the likelihood that experienced college-educated females applying for an administrative support job receive a callback from a potential employer. First, the results show no relationship between callback rates and the duration of unemployment. Second, workers age 50 and older are significantly less likely to receive a callback. Third, taking an interim job significantly reduces the likelihood of receiving a callback. Finally, employers who have higher callback rates respond less to observable differences across workers in determining whom to call back. We interpret these results in the context of a model of employer learning about applicant quality.

JEL-codes: J6 J62 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-10
Note: LS
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

Published as Factors Determining Callbacks to Job Applications by the Unemployed: An Audit Study Henry S. Farber, Dan Silverman, and Till M. von Wachter RSF 2017 3:3, 168-201

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Working Paper: Factors Determining Callbacks to Job Applications by the Unemployed: An Audit Study (2015)
Working Paper: Factors Determining Callbacks to Job Applications by the Unemployed: An Audit Study (2015)
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