Job Seeking While Caregiving: Is There a Hiring Penalty for Family Caregivers?
Samantha Brady

TL;DR
Unpaid adult caregivers in the U.S. face hiring penalties, being less likely to be hired than non-caregivers or even parents of children.
Contribution
This study reveals a previously underexplored hiring bias against adult caregivers using original experimental data.
Findings
Unpaid caregivers are 4.4 percentage points less likely to be hired than non-caregivers.
Caregivers are perceived as less available, reliable, and committed compared to non-caregivers.
Hiring penalties for caregivers may hinder career mobility and financial stability.
Abstract
Whether by choice or necessity, the majority of unpaid family caregivers to adults in the U.S. are employed. Prior research highlights the importance of work for caregivers’ financial stability, emotional well-being, and physical health. However, less is known about how caregiving responsibilities for an adult affect job seekers, particularly in hiring decisions. While hiring bias against parents is well-documented, the impact of adult caregiving on employment opportunities remains under-explored. Using data from an original hiring experiment of hiring managers across the US, we examine how family caregivers are perceived in the hiring process and whether they face penalties due to their caregiving roles. Results show that unpaid family caregivers are 4.4 percentage points less likely to be hired than equally qualified applicants without caregiving responsibilities and 2.7 percentage…
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Taxonomy
TopicsWork-Family Balance Challenges · Career Development and Diversity · Retirement, Disability, and Employment
