Proposer
Advantage
in Job Markets
Comparative analysis of Applicant-optimal vs Employer-optimal stable matchings using the Gale-Shapley algorithm on real LinkedIn job postings and resume skill profiles.
Simulation Parameters
Theoretical Foundation
Gale-Shapley Algorithm
Iterative deferred-acceptance algorithm guaranteeing a stable matching in O(n²) time. Each round proposers make offers; receivers tentatively hold the best and reject the rest.
Proposer Advantage
The proposing side receives their best possible stable matching. The receiving side receives their worst possible stable matching — this is the core structural asymmetry we measure.
Cosine Similarity
Preference lists are generated via cosine similarity of skill vectors: sim(a,e) = (a·e)/(|a||e|). Higher similarity = higher rank on the preference list.
Blocking Pairs
A pair (a,e) blocks a matching if both prefer each other over their current partners. A stable matching has no blocking pairs — verified after each run.