Tolerance and perceived threat matter! Understanding employment discrimination against immigrants in the Spanish labour market / ¡La tolerancia y la amenaza percibida importan! Entender la discriminación laboral de los inmigrantes en el mercado laboral español

Abstract

The threat-based skill paradox suggests that the employability of immigrants decreases compared to nationals as they possess more advanced skills because they are considered a threat to national job applicants. Extending previous research, the present study explores whether the perceived threat to the Spanish labour market generated by an applicant for high- and low-status jobs and the evaluations received (on stereotypes, emotions and facilitation behavioural tendencies) vary depending on the candidate’s ethnicity (Moroccan vs. Spanish) and the tolerance of the evaluator. Participants (N = 579) were randomly assigned to evaluate a candidate with a CV varying in ethnicity, job status and gender. We found that the threat perceived by medium-low-tolerant evaluators was associated with worse evaluations and less intentions to help Moroccan (vs. Spanish) candidates to a low-status job and with less active facilitation intentions towards Moroccan (vs. Spanish) candidates to a high-status job. However, high-tolerant evaluators expressed more willingness to actively help the Moroccan (vs. Spanish) candidate to high-status conditions, independently of the perceived threat. These findings highlight the important role of the tolerance of the evaluators in this context.