The Heterogeneous Effects of Workplace Gender Diversity Disclosures on Job Selection Decisions
75 Pages Posted: 17 Oct 2022 Last revised: 23 Aug 2023
Date Written: August 23, 2023
Abstract
Many labor market participants claim to use workplace diversity statistics to help them assess their goodness-of-fit with firms, but it is unclear if these statistics actually influence their job selection decisions. We conduct a hypothetical choice experiment using workplace gender diversity disclosures to explore if and how such disclosures change job selection behaviors. We find that labor market participants prefer to accept offers from employers that disclose their gender diversity statistics over those that do not. We find that the average labor market participant prefers workplaces with less female representation, but they do value gender-equality focused charitable giving. We also find significant gender differences, as men, but not women, exhibit a negative preference towards increased female representation, whereas women, but not men, exhibit a positive preference towards gender-equality focused philanthropy. These findings shed light on how both voluntary and mandatory workplace gender diversity disclosures could affect the labor market.
Keywords: Job Search Decision, Human Capital, Disclosure Policy, Gender Diversity
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