Muslim women are discriminated against in the job market, making them the most economically disadvantaged group in British society, according to a report by MPs. A report by the Women and Equalities Committee discovered Muslim women are three times more likely to be unemployed and looking for work than women generally, and are more than twice as likely to be economically inactive. Evidence suggested the biggest cause of the “acute” disadvantage felt by Muslim women was their religion, and impact of Islamophobia on Muslim women “should not be underestimated”. According to a report, “they are 71 percent more likely than white Christian women to be unemployed, even when they have the same educational level and language skills.” Muslim women can face discrimination based on their name, religious or cultural dress, and are more likely to be asked about marriage, childcare or family aspirations, the MPs suggest. The report also described a “chill factor” where Muslim women are put off applying for certain jobs because they fear discrimination or hostile work colleagues. The MPs called on ministers to roll out “name-blind recruitment” to all employers, so that recruiters do not see applicants’ names, following evidence that job applicants with white-sounding names are more likely to get an interview.
Some 5 percent of women are unemployed and seeking work across the country, while among Muslim women it is 16 percent.
