Unemployment Stigma and the Selection Process

Abstract

The 2007- 2009 recession resulted in the largest proportion of long-term unemployed people in U.S. history (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). In the recovery of such a deep recession, the labor market now faces the task of placing a high volume of unemployed applicants back into the workforce. It is therefore important to consider the perceptions that employers may have of the unemployed when reviewing these applicants in the selection process. Recent research has shown that unemployed individuals are viewed as being chiefly responsible for their unemployment, either because they lack skills or motivation (Oberholzer-Gee, 2008). This study further examines unemployment stigma. Specifically, how third variables such as an applicant’s age, gender, and length of unemployment affect the applicant’s ability to get hired. Results indicate the unemployed are viewed as less hireable than the currently employed, regardless of unemployment length.