Position Paper: Barriers to Muslim Women’s Progression in the Labour Market

According to the Office for National Statistics, Muslims have the highest unemployment rate of any religious group in England and Wales, with discrimination against Muslim women being acutely compounded by gender and wider intersectional experiences, such as disability and parental status. Consequently, Muslim women face unique barriers in advancing their careers, including pervasive workplace discrimination, limited access to mentorship and leadership opportunities, and difficulties in accessing appropriate support regarding child and elder care responsibilities.

This position paper argues that without targeted interventions, these structural barriers will continue to prevent Muslim women from fully participating in the labour market. This paper utilises a human rights-based framework to address these challenges and calls for policy interventions that eliminate systemic bias, improve workplace inclusivity, and provide equitable childcare solutions to empower Muslim women and promote gender and religious equality.

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