I have been searching for a new job and I keep coming across with the question "are you Hispanic or latino" why do they ask it ? Would it be less likely to get a job if I checked that? What's the purpose of that question?

>thread moved from Immigration Law<

Maybe because they are a minority group and the company posting can't say no if they are either of those, they can't discriminate against them.

In the US, it means either that they get government contracts that require a certain % of non-Caucasian employees, or they have a company policy of diversity in hiring (usually large corporations and chain stores).
It would be in your favor, generally.

@joy, so basically, they can't discriminate against this minority group

You said it nicely though, very diplomatic :)

I wasn't meaning to be diplomatic.
I forgot to add that it is always voluntary to answer any question about race on a job application.

No employer can discriminate AGAINST someone based (solely) on race whether they ask or not, but they can discriminate in FAVOR, to keep in line with the ratio of the general population.
So if you see a question about race, it's because they want to or have to hire from different backgrounds.

I once worked for a minority contractor. He was usually a sub on huge gov't contracts that required a % of employees and subs be minority. He had to have a % of minority employees working for him too. It was a lot of paperwork.

I do have to ask, why is this in immigration law? Are you residing in the US legally? Are you legally allowed to work in the US? Is that the issue you're having?

No lol I was just wondering and I didn't know what catalogue I was susoppsed to put it under lol

no lol I was just wondering and I didn't know what catalogue I was susoppsed to put it under lol

Well you put it in immigration law, and since you didn't give a lot of info with your question, my guess was that you were asking because you're an illegal immigrant, which could have course have a lot of bearing on you getting a job in the US.

When someone posts a question, and doesn't give a lot of info, we look at the forum they posted it under to help guide us. In this case you posted it in the immigration law forum, which is why I asked about your status in the US.

No I'm not illegal I am Hispanic and I was just wondering because that question has been brought up all the time when I do an application and no one really have me a real answer as to why the government put that there

no im not illegal I am Hispanic and I was just wondering because that question has been brought up all the time when I do an application and no one really have me a real answer as to why the government put that there

Not sure. It may be because there are a lot of illegals in the US. It could also be because they have to meet a certain quota of minorities hired, which can only work in your favor.

I'm in Canada, every application for a job I fill out asks if I'm Indian. I'm guessing it's because there are many Indians in the country I live in, and they do have more rights than the rest of the population. If you're Indian in Canada, you're pretty much guaranteed a job, even if you're not qualified for it. If you're Indian and you're turned down for a job, you can cause all sorts of problems. Doesn't matter that you're not qualified for the job, doesn't matter that there are others more qualified than you. As a minority, they get first dibs.

But really, we can only guess why they ask. Only they really know why.

They ask for demographic census type thing

no lol I was just wondering and I didn't know what catalogue I was susoppsed to put it under lol

It should have been put in Labor Law.

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