Lower success rates for Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in higher education staff recruitment

To investigate success rates for applications to job vacancies at a United Kingdom Higher Education Institution (HEI) and whether applicants’ ethnicity affected their chances of being shortlisted and/or offered a position. Statistical testing of 46,738 applications over a 7-year period (Sep 2016 to Aug 2023) was used to determine whether there was a significant relationship between success at different stages of the application process and applicant ethnicity. Overall, ethnicity appears to negatively affect success at each of the two stages of the application process. Furthermore, lower success rates for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) applicants are present for both Academic and Professional Services recruitment vacancies when analysed separately, with a stronger association for the former.