Compelling Evidence of Discrimination Against Jewish Job Seekers

Submitting a job application can be a challenging endeavor.

No matter if you’re currently employed, just graduated, or have spent years in the workforce, it demands significant time, energy, and courage.

Job seekers often meticulously revise their resumes, rehearse for interviews, and seek advice from trusted friends and mentors to present their best selves.

Unfortunately, it appears that, in the 21st century, the name on that resume can still pose a disadvantage for Jewish individuals.

This conclusion is drawn from a groundbreaking study conducted by the Anti-Defamation League that explores discrimination against Jewish and Israeli Americans in the job market.

For this research, the ADL collaborated with a leading labor economist to perform a field experiment that involved submitting applications for administrative assistant positions using resumes that differed only in specific attributes, such as the applicant’s name.

This researcher dispatched 3,000 applications this year across 23 cities.

The study revealed that names indicating the applicants were Jewish American, Israeli American, or of Western European descent meant that individuals with Jewish or Israeli-sounding names like “Rebecca Cohen” and “Lia Avraham” had to submit significantly more applications than those with less ethnically distinctive names like “Kristen Miller” to garner a favorable response.

Specifically, the data indicated that the fictional Rebecca needed to send 24% more applications, while the fictional Lia required 39% more applications to achieve the same number of positive responses from potential employers.

Overall, resumes with names associated with Jewish Americans received a positive response rate that was 3.4% lower, and those associated with Israeli Americans were 4.9% lower compared to names suggesting other ethnicities, such as Italian or Irish.

These numbers signify more than mere statistics.

This represents significant evidence of persistent antisemitic discrimination in employment.

We must confront the reality of these findings.

They are indicative of a broader context of unchecked antisemitism in our nation, especially in light of the disturbing antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric we’ve seen since October 7, 2023.

The hateful discourse prevalent over the past year has tangible repercussions, and it is crucial for us to recognize this as a society.

We are already aware that some Jewish individuals have taken to altering their names on online platforms, delivery apps, and elsewhere to avoid discrimination.

Some have opted to remove their kippahs or Star of David jewelry in certain circumstances to escape harassment.

Furthermore, our recent Online Hate and Harassment Survey found that 41% of Jewish individuals altered their online presence over the past year to avoid identification as Jewish.

This situation is entirely unacceptable.

I often reflect on individuals like Rebecca Cohen, Lia Avraham, and many other Jewish acquaintances, pondering how many of them may have questioned why, despite their qualifications and enthusiasm, they were overlooked for positions they aspired to and felt qualified for.

Amid the surge of antisemitic incidents hitting record levels and rising antisemitic sentiments, this study underscores the urgent need for employers, lawmakers, and civil rights advocates to take anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli discrimination seriously to foster an inclusive workplace.

Federal labor law already prohibits hiring discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin, and maintaining this standard should not be a challenge.

I have also contemplated those who may have considered changing their names for these reasons or those who used an alternate name on their resumes.

However, while it is possible to cleverly craft past work experiences on a resume or an introductory email, altering one’s name is not easily achievable.

Back in the early 20th century, during the Jewish immigration wave, many Jewish immigrants opted for American-sounding names at Ellis Island to simplify their integration process.

One would have hoped that, in today’s more accepting society, concealing one’s faith or identity would be a relic of the past.

This new survey compels us to rethink that expectation.

Jonathan Greenblatt is the CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League.