Ableist Language in Job Postings: How Common Is It and What's the Impact?

What is it about?

The words used in job postings can have a bigger impact than most employers realize. This research looked at whether the language in job ads unintentionally discourages people with disabilities from applying — and found that it often does. Across nearly 1,900 real job ads, the vast majority contained language that was biased against people with disabilities, while very few included statements about equal opportunity or workplace accommodations. In follow-up studies, people with and without disabilities both reacted negatively to biased language and more positively to inclusive language — feeling like they'd be a better fit for the company and more likely to apply when the ad was welcoming. These effects were especially strong for people with disabilities. Even when a job offered higher pay, biased language still put people off from applying. The takeaway is clear: the way job ads are written can quietly push qualified candidates away, and small changes — like adding an accommodation statement — can meaningfully open the door.

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Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research investigates an important topic, ableist language in job ads, that has yet to be explored much in the literature, and demonstrates how impactful this language can be on applicants that apply (regardless of whether they have disabilities). It provides organizations with small and simple ways to review and update their job ads to be able to increase their applicant pool.

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