What phrase best describes a hiring situation where a high school diploma requirement results in a lack of diversity among candidates?

The phrase that best describes a hiring situation where a high school diploma requirement leads to a lack of diversity among candidates is "disparate impact." This term refers to policies or practices that, while seemingly neutral and applicable to all candidates, disproportionately affect a particular group. In this context, requiring a high school diploma may inadvertently exclude candidates from diverse backgrounds who may not have obtained one, even if they possess the skills and experience necessary for the job.

Disparate impact emphasizes the consequences of such requirements on the composition of the candidate pool, rather than the intent behind the hiring practice. It highlights how certain selection criteria, while applied uniformly, can result in underrepresentation of specific demographic groups, indicating a systemic issue that affects equity in hiring processes.