VANCOUVER, Canada, May 20, 2009 (AFP) - Jobseekers in Canada fare better if their names sound British than people with names from Pakistan, China or India, according to a study published Wednesday.

Researchers sent 6,000 fake resumes to small and mid-sized employers advertising jobs in Toronto, Canada's largest metropolis and one of the world's most culturally diverse cities.

Among the fake applicants with Canadian education and experience, employers called back 16 percent of those with English-sounding names, such as Jill Wilson or John Martin.

Only 11 percent of applicants with Asian-sounding names, such as Sana Khan or Lei Li, were called back, said economist Philip Oreopoulos of the University of British Columbia.

"The magnitude of (the difference) was larger than I would have imagined," he told AFP.

"The findings suggest that a distinct foreign-sounding name may be a significant disadvantage on the job market - even if you are a second- or third-generation citizen." Oreopoulos added: "A lot of people are going to point and say this is racial discrimination."

The economist said more research is needed to determine whether the results would be similar with large businesses, which were not included in the study, and whether the discriminatory behavior was intentional or was due to employers flipping quickly through resumes and making "subconscious stereotype decisions."

Each fake applicant claimed to hold a bachelor's degree and have four to six years of experience. Variables included the ethnic origin of the applicant's name, and whether their education and experience took place in Canada or elsewhere.

Researchers sent the resumes to 2,000 advertised jobs in 20 types of work, ranging from computer science to retail sales. Employers who called back were told the applicant was no longer seeking a job, said Oreopoulos.

He said the research sought to explain why many new immigrants to Canada are struggling, despite Canadian policies designed to attract qualified immigrants able to join the high-skilled labor market.

The research was published online by the Metropolis Project, an immigration and diversity research network.