Political discrimination in hiring: Evidence from a large field experiment

Political polarization is a pressing societal issue, and this study examines whether political affiliation-related discrimination exists in hiring, a mechanism that could exacerbate polarization. Following the 2022 general election we conducted a field experiment in Sweden, submitting 11,461 fictitious applications to test whether political participation affects employer responses. Linking experimental observations to local political environments using administrative and voting data, we find that listing political affiliation reduces the probability of a positive employer response by about 2 percentage points. This penalty is consistent across the left- and right blocs, although for right bloc parties it is driven by affiliation with the populist Sweden Democrats and varies with local voting patterns. This discrimination is concentrated in urban labor markets, with no evidence of political penalties in rural municipalities. Effects differ by applicant background, with Arab men experiencing a positive effect from disclose political affiliation while other groups face penalties. These findings highlight the role of political affiliation-based discrimination in deepening polarization and suggest that employers may unwittingly reinforce societal divides through their hiring practices.

Sinclair, S., & Granberg, M. (2026). Political discrimination in hiring: Evidence from a large field experiment. Political Psychology, 47, e70133. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.70133