Gender homophily in job referrals: Evidence from a field study among university students

We conducted a field study at a Swedish business school to investigate gender homophily in referrer behavior. In the study, 453 participants were asked to refer another student at the school for a real job. We find that both men and women mainly refer candidates of their own gender: 71% of female participants referred a female candidate, and 75% of male participants referred a male candidate. The gender composition of close friendship networks appears to be an important driver of this pattern. Randomizing participants across two job advertisements, we find suggestive evidence that the degree of gender homophily in job referrals is stronger when the job is more consistent with stereotypes associated with the participant’s own gender. • When asked to refer someone for a job, both men and women mainly refer candidates of their own gender. • The gender composition of close friendship networks is an important driver of this pattern. • One half of individuals refer a close friend, and friendship networks are highly gender homophilous.