The illegal job interview questions you can't ask in 2026
A significant number of job seekers have said they were asked “illegal" interview questions — but there are ways companies can limit the potential fallout.
About one-third of job seekers faced illegal or generally prohibited questions during an interview, including questions about their age, their plans to have children or marital status, or about health or disabilities, according to the latest annual Job Search Trends Report by job tracker and resume builder Huntr. According to the survey, about 14% were asked about their marital status or family plans, while almost 8% were asked about their age.
About 5% were asked about financial issues such as credit score or previous pay, while another 5% were asked about their nationality. Smaller percentages were asked about religion, sexual orientation, political views, health or other areas, the report shows.
There are two separate categories of unlawful questions, according to labor and employment law attorney Ryan Eddings, a partner at Hanson Bridge LLP. There are a small group of questions prohibited by law, such as a California law that says employers may not ask applicants about criminal history or current salaries — and asking these questions is enough to trigger employer liability, he said in an email.
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2026/02/10/job-interview-applicant-illegal-questions-tips.html
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