Race Discrimination: widespread bias against ethnic sounding names

A recent sting operation conducted by researchers at the National Centre for Social Research (NCSR) on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has uncovered widespread bias amongst employers against ethnic names. 

NCSR researchers sent out nearly 3,000 job applications under false identities.  Three fake identities were used for each vacancy, one white and two from different ethnic groups (black African, black Caribbean, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani/Bangladeshi).  Each of the fake applicants was given a similar education, skills and experience.  Fake applications were sent for vacancies in the private, public and voluntary sectors in major cities across the UK: Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Manchester.  Nine occupations were targeted: IT Support, IT Technician, Accountant, Accounts Clerk, Human Resources Manager, Teaching Assistant, Care Assistant, Sales Assistant and Office Assistant.

The report of the research, A Test for Racial Discrimination in Recruitment Practice in British Cities, found that white candidates would send only 9 applications before receiving a positive response of either an invitation to interview or an encouraging telephone call, whereas ethnic minority candidates would need to send out 16.

The Employment Minister, Jim Knight, has said of the research: “We suspected there was a problem.  This uncovers the shocking scale of it.  Candidates with an Asian or African sounding name face real discrimination and this has exposed the fact that companies are missing out on real talent.”

Given the disturbing findings of the research, it seems likely that the Government will support an amendment to the Equality Bill banning employers from asking for names from applicants before they offer an interview.

Do you think ‘anonymous’ job applications are the solution?