Discrimination in the Dutch Labour Market: A Correspondence Test of Race and Education

Abstract This study examines racial discrimination in the Dutch labour market and the influence of education. In a correspondence test, this study sent fictitious paired applications of black and white male candidates to entry-level jobs, distinguishing between semi-skilled jobs and jobs requiring a college education. The resumes were assigned a photo of a black or white man whose skin colour served as a proxy to manipulate race. Three hundred applications were sent to 150 job vacancies. This study found significant discrimination against black applicants, who must submit 28 percent more job applications than equally qualified white applicants to receive a callback from employers. These racial disparities demonstrate the significance of skin colour in the Dutch labour market. So, the results contradict the ideology of a just world in which every person has equal opportunities. Moreover, the data did not support that the difference in callbacks between white and black candidates is smaller when applying for jobs requiring a college education than for semi-skilled jobs. So, this study did not find that a higher-level educational degree significantly decreased racial discrimination against blacks. As such, skin colour and race provide a crucial area for future research in the Dutch context. I discuss the implications for theory and practice.