Are Employers Less Likely to Hire Muslims?

Everybody deserves a chance in the workforce, but is being a Muslim an obstacle to finding employment?

Muslims make up one-third of the world’s population. In America alone, they represent roughly 20 million people. Despite this, because of workplace prejudice and discrimination, it’s reported that Muslims are less likely to find employment than other religious groups in the United States.

This shows that if you're Muslim and you want to compete for jobs with people who aren't Muslim, it can be difficult for you if employers find out about your religion.

A survey by the Center for Security Policy in Washington, D.C. showed that 32 percent of Muslims applying to jobs faced some kind of discrimination during the interview process, while 24 percent had been asked about their religious beliefs and practices. Five percent claimed they had been told they would not be hired because of their religion.

Unfair treatment was also reported in education among the young, with one person surveyed saying they had experienced hostility while attending elementary school. One Muslim parent said her high school age son had been ridiculed and beaten up by classmates after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001.

Disadvantages in employment frequently came up, but not just within education or recruitment processes. A mother said that her son, a Muslim, was not selected for a school sports team because the coach didn’t want ‘a Muslim on his team.’ An employer who spoke to Chatham House Policy Brief on Religion and Society, a British think-tank in London, said ‘I cannot tolerate having a Muslim employee in my office... It would feel wrong.’

A CEO of a large hospitality group said that he wouldn't hire any Muslims for his staff because 'it's too difficult with the terrorism.' He added: 'I have to have some element of fear in my business. going on the news any night of the week and seeing what's happening around the world.'

In addition to this, in a survey conducted by The Guardian newspaper, it was found that almost one in three Britons admitted to harboring anti-Muslim sentiment.

Still more research has shown that Muslims have a harder time finding work compared to other religious groups. A study by Arab American Institute showed that an average of 70 percent of Arabs were unemployed in the United States in 2002. This figure was double that of those who identified themselves as Christian or Jewish, at 35 percent and 41 percent respectively.

A report by the Center for Equal Opportunity, a Virginia-based think-tank, stated that Muslims were also less likely to be hired than those who are white, black or Hispanic.

Prejudice against Muslims has become all too common in recent years, and it’s growing. The U.S. Department of Justice recently collected data showing that hate crimes against Muslim Americans increased by 200 percent between 2002 and 2006. Another survey by the Council on American-Islamic Relations found that 65 percent of Muslim Americans have been subject to some kind of discrimination in the past year.

As the last decade has shown, prejudice against Muslims is a thing of the past. Luckily, it’s becoming less common and giving those who are Muslim an opportunity to work isn't impossible. The hard part about finding a job for every religious group is that it’s hard to know what each person believes about their beliefs. Even with this issue in mind, there are many people who are looking for a chance in the workforce; if you're Muslim and you want to compete for jobs with people who aren't Muslim, it can be difficult for you if employers find out about your religion.

A survey by the Center for Security Policy in Washington, D.C. showed that 32 percent of Muslims applying to jobs faced some kind of discrimination during the interview process, while 24 percent had been asked about their religious beliefs and practices. Five percent claimed they had been told they would not be hired because of their religion.

Unfair treatment was also reported in education among the young, with one person surveyed saying they had experienced hostility while attending elementary school. One Muslim parent said her high school age son had been ridiculed and beaten up by classmates after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001.

Disadvantages in employment frequently came up, but not just within education or recruitment processes. A mother said that her son, a Muslim, was not selected for a school sports team because the coach didn’t want ‘a Muslim on his team.’ An employer who spoke to Chatham House Policy Brief on Religion and Society, a British think-tank in London, said ‘I cannot tolerate having a Muslim employee in my office... It would feel wrong.’

A CEO of a large hospitality group said that he wouldn't hire any Muslims for his staff because 'it's too difficult with the terrorism.' He added: 'I have to have some element of fear in my business. going on the news any night of the week and seeing what's happening around the world.’

In addition to this, in a survey conducted by The Guardian newspaper, it was found that almost one in three Britons admitted to harboring anti-Muslim sentiment.

Still more research has shown that Muslims have a harder time finding work compared to other religious groups. A study by Arab American Institute showed that an average of 70 percent of Arabs were unemployed in the United States in 2002. This figure was double that of those who identified themselves as Christian or Jewish, at 35 percent and 41 percent respectively.

A report by the Center for Equal Opportunity, a Virginia-based think-tank, stated that Muslims were also less likely to be hired than those who are white, black or Hispanic.

Prejudice against Muslims has become all too common in recent years, and it’s growing. The U.S. Department of Justice recently collected data showing that hate crimes against Muslim Americans increased by 200 percent between 2002 and 2006. Another survey by the Council on American-Islamic Relations found that 65 percent of Muslim Americans have been subject to some kind of discrimination in the past year.

As the last decade has shown, prejudice against Muslims is a thing of the past. Luckily, it’s becoming less common and giving those who are Muslim an opportunity to work isn't impossible. The hard part about finding a job for every religious group is that it’s hard to know what each person believes about their beliefs.

Conclusion

The main reason that it’s been difficult for Muslims to find work, is because of the prevalence of prejudice. It’s natural that employers would have reservations about hiring people who adhere to a religion that has been associated with violence. However, the good news is that intolerance is decreasing, and when it does so it can be advantageous to everybody.

The price of discrimination against Muslims has become too high and ignorance regarding their history has created unrealistic expectations of what they can do. If you're looking for a job these days, knowing how Muslims think about their religion can help you get one if you don't fit into an existing stereotype - especially if prejudice against them is common in your area or industry.