Work

Recruitment difficulties in the restaurant industry? A field experiment on discrimination in access to apprenticeships in Paris

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Access to apprenticeships remains one of the least explored areas in field experiments on ethnic discrimination. We examine the restaurant sector in Paris, a field notoriously affected by severe recruitment challenges. Our correspondence test targets female students who are seeking apprenticeships as waitresses. Our results reveal both highly selective recruitment practices and significant ethnic penalties. The relative gap in callback rates reaches 43%, one of the highest levels recorded in such studies. These findings raise critical questions about the effectiveness of policies aimed at promoting equal opportunity in educational pathways.

Source: Education Economics

DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2026.2738954

Authors: Denis Anne, Laetitia Challe, Sylvain Chareyron, Yannick L'Horty, Ngoc-Thao Noet

Institutions: Université Gustave Eiffel, Université Paris-Est Créteil

Language: English

Topic: Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Decent work and economic growth, Quality education, Gender equality

Open Access status: green

Funder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche