Forced Ranking Systems and Gender Gaps in Job Tenure

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Yan, Shuo; Li, Shaobo (Kevin); Houser, Daniel; Ge, Chunmian; Zhuo, Jiayi
• 署名单位: Zhejiang University; Southern University of Science & Technology; George Mason University; South China University of Technology; Macau University of Science and Technology
• 刊物名称: MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0025-1909
• DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2022.03264
• 发表日期: 2026
• 关键词: Human capital; labor market friction; GENDER; COMPETITION

摘要

Using career history data from employees' online profiles, we provide empirical evidence regarding how human resources systems can affect the gender gap in job tenure. Our results indicate that female workers experience shorter average job tenure than male workers. Our results further show that abandoning forced ranking systems helps to narrow this gender gap. We present experimental evidence indicating that in forced ranking environments, women experience shorter tenure than men and are more likely to exit their roles. This is true even when women are on equal footing with men. Finally, we present survey evidence that under forced ranking systems, more women resign as compared with men. In sum, our empirical, experimental, and survey results indicate that forced ranking systems may contribute to a gender gap in job tenure. Accordingly, abandoning such systems may help promote workplace gender equality.