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Personality Characteristics Demanded by Employers: Analysis of Job Descriptions From University Job Boards

In: Big Data Applications in Labor Economics, Part A

Author

Listed:
  • Luiza Antonie
  • Laura Gatto
  • Sarah Oloumi
  • Miana Plesca

Abstract

Employing the keyword extraction technique of Term Frequency – Inverse Document Frequency (TFIDF) on 39,487 descriptions posted on a University Co-op and Career on-line job board from May 1, 2013 to May 1, 2020, we report the keywords associated weights for the Big Five personality traits of Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (reversed to indicate Emotional Stability) by job category. The results indicate that one third of job descriptions do not contain any keywords: even if employers are recruiting for particular personality traits, they are not necessarily referencing them in their job descriptions. For those job descriptions with TFIDF scores, Conscientiousness has the highest TFIDF score and Emotional Stability the smallest. Regression analysis indicates that categories more technical in nature, like engineering or business, score higher for “Openness”; Accounting scores highest for “Conscientiousness”; and people-facing roles in healthcare, veterinary care, childcare/teaching and administrative services score higher on “Agreeableness” and, to some extent, “Emotional stability.”

Suggested Citation

  • Luiza Antonie & Laura Gatto & Sarah Oloumi & Miana Plesca, 2024. "Personality Characteristics Demanded by Employers: Analysis of Job Descriptions From University Job Boards," Research in Labor Economics, in: Big Data Applications in Labor Economics, Part A, volume 52, pages 213-260, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:rleczz:s0147-91212024000052a027
    DOI: 10.1108/S0147-91212024000052A027
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