system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What impact on employment opportunities do the equal opportunity questions in job applications have?

I am currently searching for a job, and on every application that I fill out they always have the questionnaire at the end that asks about race, gender, ethnicity, veteran status and disability. Do these get factored into the hiring process? Does putting down that you are multiple of the classes increase your chances of employment? Does selecting the "choose not to answer" choice give you a better chance rather than selecting "male" or "white non-Hispanic"? I need some explaining on how this all works, thanks!
gpt
In many companies it's not used in the decision; it's just used by an inspector later to determine that there was no pattern of bias against certain groups.

Some companies with an "affirmative action" policy will actually make a special effort to hire people from certain minorities and/or whichever gender they have less of.