Bias Audit
What is a bias audit?
A bias audit is an independent assessment that tests whether an automated hiring tool produces disparate outcomes across protected groups. Under NYC Local Law 144, employers using automated employment decision tools must have such tools independently bias-audited and publish the results.
What it involves
An auditor analyzes outcome data, such as selection rates by sex and race or ethnicity, calculates impact ratios, and reports where disparities appear so they can be addressed. It is a point-in-time, independent check, distinct from the ongoing monitoring a responsible team also runs.
Example
An employer using an automated screening tool commissions an independent audit. The audit finds one criterion is advancing one group at a noticeably lower rate. The employer investigates, adjusts the criterion, and re-checks, keeping a record of the change.
How uRecruits approaches it
External bias auditing is part of uRecruits' Responsible AI Program (RAP), which is in development, described here as designed and planned rather than as a completed or certified audit. uRecruits' broader design reduces audit risk by keeping matching deterministic, scoring on job-related criteria, and keeping humans in every decision.
Legal & compliance note
This topic carries legal and compliance implications. The information here is general and US-focused. Verify against authoritative sources such as the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Labor, and consult employment counsel before acting.
