Press release

Stepstone technology helps companies to comply with new EU rules on gender-neutral job advertisements 

• The Stepstone Group's Gender Bias Decoder identifies and eliminates gender-specific language

• European Parliament adopted new rules for job advertisements and job titles

Düsseldorf, April 25, 2023.  Companies in the European Union (EU) are facing new challenges when it comes to writing job advertisements as postings and job titles will no longer be allowed to include any gender-specific references. These requirements are set out in the new pay transparency directive that was recently adopted by the European Parliament with a large majority. The Stepstone Group, a leading digital recruitment platform, already offers dedicated technology that supports companies with producing gender-neutral job advertisements. Its Gender Bias Decoder helps to promote diversity and inclusion by identifying and eliminating gender-specific language.

The decoder analyzes the number of gender-coded words within job adverts and assesses whether the language is biased. As part of this process, the tool automatically suggests alternative options for more neutral formulations. For example, changing the phrase “We are looking for a high-performing team member” to “We are looking for a talented team member” could help to encourage women to apply for the role.

“At The Stepstone Group, our goal is to help everyone to find the job that’s right for them. This is why we use our technology in a targeted manner to open up even more opportunities in the world of work,” says Sebastian Dettmers, CEO of The Stepstone Group. “Many businesses are already struggling with the Great People Shortage and this problem will only become more pronounced as the labor force continues to shrink,” he adds. “Employers know this and want to promote greater diversity. But unconscious bias in the language used in job advertisements can undermine their efforts. That’s where the Gender Bias Decoder can be a great help.”

For example, an analysis of 11 million job descriptions in Germany by The Stepstone Group in the first quarter 2023 showed that over 90 percent contained gender-specific phrases, with the majority of cases being male-biased. In job ads, a classic example of language that is likely to speak more to male candidates than to female candidates is the phrase “We are looking for an assertive personality”. The underlying phenomenon is that of unconscious bias, i.e. assumptions or stereotypes about women and men that people unwittingly internalize and that influence the way language is used. Studies show that women are particularly likely to be deterred by biased language. As a result, female candidates may decide not to apply for a job in the first place, without being aware that their choice has been influenced by the language used in the advertisement. 

The new rules require companies in the EU to disclose data that helps employees to compare salaries and identify pay gaps. On March 30, 2023, the European Parliament adopted a proposal on new rules for pay transparency with 427 votes in favor, 79 votes against, and 76 abstentions. The new rules stipulate that remuneration structures must be based on gender-neutral criteria and designed to ensure that job evaluation and job classification are entirely independent of gender. In addition, job advertisements and job titles must not include any gender-specific references and recruitment and hiring processes must be free of discrimination.

The adopted proposal must be formally approved by the European Council before it can be signed into law and published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The new rules will take effect 20 days after publication.

About The Stepstone Group 

The Stepstone Group is a leading digital recruitment platform that connects companies with the right talent and helps people find the right job. The Stepstone Group connects more than 110 million job applications with over 150,000 employers every year. With its integrated platform, the Stepstone Group automates the recruitment process and offers AI-based solutions that cover the entire recruitment process – from sourcing to engaging and hiring. In 2022, the Stepstone Group generated revenue of around €1 billion. The Stepstone Group operates in more than 30 countries - including StepStone in Germany, Appcast in the USA and Totaljobs in the UK. The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany and employs around 4,000 people worldwide.

Contact
The Stepstone Group – Media Relations
presse@stepstone.de