Discrimination during hiring based on which of the following is illegal?

Discrimination during hiring based on race, gender, and marital status is illegal due to established laws that promote equal opportunity in the workplace. Various anti-discrimination laws, such as the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, prohibit employers from making hiring decisions based on these characteristics, as they are considered protected classes. These laws aim to ensure that all individuals have the right to compete fairly for jobs and that their qualifications, rather than personal attributes unrelated to job performance, dictate hiring outcomes.

Other factors, like education and experience, are legitimate criteria that employers can use to assess an applicant's suitability for a position, as they directly relate to an individual's qualifications. Similarly, occupation and skills are also part of a candidate's credentials and are relevant to job performance. The location of residence can also be a reasonable factor considered by employers, especially if the job has specific geographic requirements. However, basing hiring decisions on race, gender, or marital status does not pertain to qualifications or job performance and serves to uphold systemic biases, which the law aims to eliminate.