ASIAN JOB APPLICANTS STILL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
(12 July 2004)

Ethnic minority applicants are still discriminated against in UK jobs market a study by BBC Radio Five Live suggested today (Monday 12 July 2004). The station mounted an undercover survey lasting ten months, in which dummy CVs were sent out to a wide range of companies in response to recruitment ads. For each vacancy, two applications --- one male and one female from white, European, Asian Muslim and Black African applicants was sent .

Fifty companies looking for employees in a variety of fields were selected at random from newspaper situations vacant columns and recruitment websites. Five Live produced CVs for six fictional candidates – Abu Olasemi , Fatima Khan, Jenny Hughes, John Andrews, Nasser Hanif and Yinka Olatande .

All the fictitious applicants were the same standard in terms of qualifications and experience but were written and presented differently to increase their authenticity to recruiters. But while 23 per cent of the white candidates' applications were invited for interview, only 13 and 9 percent respectively were successful from the Black African and Muslim candidates

The research was inspired by a story covered on Five Live’s 'Up All Night' programme, which examined American research suggesting candidates with traditionally "white” names received interview offers twice as often as those with traditionally "black” names. Five Live adapted the study to find out what the situation was in the UK, also introducing an Islamic dimension.

The station sought advice from personnel experts on what employers look for in CVs and covering letters, and ensured consistent standards in all the applications. Additionally a wide range of careers, levels of seniority and geographical location were chosen to try to present a national picture.

The full results of the survey were broadcast on Radio Five Live on Monday 12 July 2004.