SOMETIMES it helps to be a Jennifer or a Lisa in the workplace rather than a Martin or an Andrew.

While women are paid considerably less than men and suffer discrimination, in some jobs it appears it is easier to get in the door if you are a woman.

A study by Australian National University economists Alison Booth and Andrew Leigh found ''substantial discrimination'' against males in jobs that women dominate.

The economists sent thousands of job applications to four female-dominated occupations.

For applications with male names the average call-back rate was 25 per cent - for candidates with female names the call-back rate was, on average, 32 per cent.