WIDE+ published it ‘Participatory Action Research in Europe around Algorithmic Tools in Hiring Processes, Keywords Over Character: The Hidden Cost of AI Screening’
This report presents findings from Feminist Participatory Action Research with 167 people facing increased risks of discrimination when applying for work in Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Serbia, and the Netherlands. It examines the expectations and experiences of participants around algorithmic assisted hiring in the context of the whole recruitment pipeline. It provides detailed qualitative descriptions and analysis within the framework of answering what kind of discrimination is experienced and how digital tools can reinforce existing inequalities, but also what can be done. Based on participatory sessions and surveys, the report captures participants’ expectations regarding transparency, accountability, feedback, and human oversight. The findings inform policy and practice on more inclusive and equitable hiring in Europe.
Project
FINDHR – Fairness and Intersectional Non-Discrimination in Human Recommendation. This publication was produced within the FINDHR project, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101070212.
Published by
Women In Development Europe+ (WIDE+), 2026
Editorial responsibility
This report was produced as part of the FINDHR project. Selected research teams with local host associations were responsible for the facilitation, documentation and analysis of country-level research activities. The associations and researchers involved were: Thera van Osch and Artikel1 Midden Nederland for the Netherlands, Impactmania and their team in Germany, NGO Atina and their team in Serbia, CSCD and their team in Bulgaria, GADC and their team in Albania, PRAKSIS and their team in Greece, and Ilaria Boiano and Differenza Donna in Italy. Several local hosts were supported by other associations as well, listed in the page with the logo’s. The script and survey questions were developed thanks to the input of the FINDHR consortium partners, in particular Radboud University, the Max Planck Institute, the University of Pisa, the University of Amsterdam, and Eticas. Transnational coordination, methodological alignment, and synthesis of findings were carried out by Women In Development Europe+ (WIDE+) in collaboration with PRAKSIS.
Author
FINDHR Project Consortium
Editorial team
Editorial lead: Edith Paulina Novo, Jie Liang Lin (theory and conclusion chapter also making use of available information from the country reports), Celine Cojocar (together with Edith Paulina Novo responsible for the methodological chapters, Masseni Keita, Francesca Maddi, Gioia Buonsanti, Gea Meijers
Country chapter authors
Milan Aleksić, Mirela Arqimandriti, Ilaria Boiano, Celine Cojocar, Eleni Dimopoulou, Sabrina Frasca, Stanimira Hadjimitova, Irina Kislenko, Esmeralda Hoxha, Jivka Marinova, Maria Moudatsou, Bojana Nakić, Thera van Osch, Zorana Parezanović, Paksy Plackis-Chen, Ilonka Stjago,, in collaboration with national partner organisations. Parts of the country reports, especially overarching conclusions, were written by Jie Liang Lin to enable coherency between chapters.
Methodological / report coordination
Gea Meijers, WIDE+, supported by Eleni Dimopoulou, PRAKSIS
Production credits
Proofreading: Edith Paulina Novo
Layout and proofreading: Stephanie Höglund
Special Thanks
Researchers in the FINDHR consortium and the overall project leader are thanked for all their input provided and support given.
Licence
This publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Suggested citation
FINDHR Consortium (2026): “Participatory Action Research in Europe around Algorithmic Tools in Hiring Processes. Keywords Over Character: The Hidden Cost of AI Screening.” Women In Development Europe+ (WIDE+). EU Horizon Europe project FINDHR – Fairness and
Intersectional Non-Discrimination in Human Recommendation. If citing an online version, include the URL where applicable: https://findhr.eu/results/participatory-action-research-in-europe-around-algorithmic-tools-in-hiring-processes/