African and Asian candidates face discrimination by employers when submitting job applications, claims a new study from National Centre for Social Research and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Thousands of fake CVs were sent by researchers to firms around the UK, using three different identities, to assess how candidates would be treated.

The three fake identities - Nazia Mahmood, Mariam Namagembe and Alison Taylor - were given similar experience and qualifications but the applicant who appeared to be white had to send nine applications before being offered an interview, while the other candidates had to send 16 applications before receiving a similar response.

The applications were sent for 987 vacancies between November 2008 and May 2009 for roles including accountants, IT staff, care workers and sales assistants in Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Manchester.

The report concluded that there was no plausible explanation for the difference in treatment other than racial discrimination.

Sandra Kerr, national campaign director, Race for Opportunity, says: “The racial discrimination uncovered by the Department for Work and Pensions’ report is shocking, but not surprising.
 
“It is deeply troubling that British ethnic minorities still experience discrimination in this country. More worrying is that over 30 years after the Race Relations Act there has been a lack of real progress on this issue.”