The Value of Reference Letters

Abel, Martin ; Burger, Rulof ; Piraino, Patrizio

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: WORKER SKILLS;    LABOR MARKET;    REFERENCE LETTER;    JOB APPLICATION;    GENDER GAP;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-8266
RP-ID  :  WPS8266

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper shows that reference lettersfrom former employers alleviate information asymmetriesabout workers' skills and improve both match qualityand equity in the labor market. A resume audit study findsthat using a reference letter in the application increasescallbacks by more than 60 percent, with women driving theeffect. Letters are effective because they provide valuableinformation about workers' skills that employers use toselect applicants of higher ability. A second experiment,which encourages job seekers to obtain and use a referenceletter, finds consistent results. In particular, employmentrates for women encouraged to obtain a letter increase by 49percent, closing the gender gap in the sample.