Research from online job board TipTopJob.com shows 46% of jobseekers think employers discriminate against people with a heavy regional accent.
But a Home Counties accent has been voted the most attractive by respondents, with 19% of 1,000 jobseekers rating this top, followed by Scottish (14%) and Irish (9%). Essex (7%) and Welsh (6%) were further down the scale.
Mike Dauncey, managing director of TipTopJob.com, said: "While we may all agree that being prejudiced by a person's accent is wrong, the truth is that people still judge individuals by the way in which they speak.
"If we can't persuade the employment market to be more open-minded regarding accents, then maybe we should get back to a time when children at school were being taught to speak with what is often thought to be Received Pronunciation. These young jobseekers will need all the help they can get."
Your chances of getting a job are higher if you speak with a Home Counties accent
More than two out of five jobseekers (42%) would change their accent as they think it would improve their chances of getting a job.
