What's in a name? Apparently a lot when it comes to finding employment, according to a study conducted by a UBC economics professor.

Philip Oreopoulos circulated 6,000 mock resumes with similar qualifications under English, Chinese, Indian or Pakistani names for 2,000 online job postings in the Toronto area.

He found people with English names were called back 40 per cent more often.

"What is clear, regardless of what's underlying it, is illegal under the Human Rights Act," Oreopoulos said yesterday. "There is certainly an element of unfairness going on. For some applications they're getting the chance to prove to themselves."

An employer could think an applicant with an ethnic name is more likely to have poor English skills or poor social skills.

"They may be using the name as a signal," he said.

Another possibility is employers are - consciously or unconsciously - leaning towards applicants with similar demographics to those working for the company.

Tung Chan, CEO of immigrant settlement service at SUCCESS, isn't surprised.

"What is news to me is that after so many years of hard work we have not reached a place where people will not look at last names," he said.

"The silver lining is Vancouverites are very tolerant and my hope is that once this is pointed out people will adjust their behaviour."

Dharm Makwana reports for Vancouver 24 hours.