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Khalil Assesses How Gender and Residential Socioeconomic Status Shape Hiring Outcomes in Karachi’s IT Sector

 CSDE Affiliate Sana Khalil (Economics) recently published a study in the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics that explored how gender and residential socioeconomic status shape hiring outcomes in Karachi’s information technology (IT) sector. To investigate employers’ hiring behavior, Khalil employed a three-pronged approach: analyzing job advertisements, conducting a resume audit experiment with 2,032 applications to 508 job openings, and surveying human resource officials. Her analysis provided evidence that employers discriminate based on gender, socioeconomic status (proxied by residential neighborhood), and commuting distance. After controlling for neighborhood, firm size, economic sector, and commuting distance, men received 2.8 percentage points more callbacks than women. Candidates from high-income neighborhoods received 3.2 percentage points more callbacks than those from low-income areas, indicating neighborhood signaling effects.
A qualitative survey of human resource officials working in IT and Sales and Business Development firms revealed that they associate positive work attributes—such as productivity, punctuality, and professionalism—with men and applicants from high-income neighborhoods. The findings highlight how both gender and residential address create compounding barriers in hiring, potentially constraining upward mobility for women and qualified candidates from disadvantaged neighborhoods

*New* Call for Participants: UW Research Study for Commuters with Disabilities

A research team from the University of Washington’s Sociology Department, in collaboration with Sound Transit, is conducting a study to examine the experiences of commuters with disabilities related to hearing, vision, and mobility. Data collected will be used to evaluate and improve a questionnaire. The team seeks participants who: (1) are 18 years of age or older; (2) reside in the Puget Sound area; (3) have an accessibility need related to hearing, vision, and/or mobility; (4) use Sound Transit public transportation services at least once weekly. As a token of appreciation, all participants will receive e-gift cards worth $100. Interviews will take place in early February.  Express interest here.