Your resume is your gatekeeper: Automated resume screening as a strategy to reduce gender gaps in hiring

Firms increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for hiring. The literature prompts concerns about such AI algorithms hindering gender equality in employment outcomes. Using a unique field study, I find human recruiters' gender stereotypes lead to women having 69% lower chances of being interviewed for a gender-neutral job, compared to equally qualified men. Introducing automated resume screening shrinks such a gender gap by 43 percentage points. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study finds that the use of AI algorithms in hiring processes can hinder gender equality, resulting in women having lower chances of being interviewed compared to men with equal qualifications. However, the introduction of automated resume screening can significantly reduce this gender gap.