Employment and Workplace Challenges of Muslim Women in the Western Labor Markets: A Scoping Review

Despite the increasing presence of Muslim women in the Western labor market, they continue to face significant challenges, not only in obtaining jobs but also within secular workplace environments. Most studies tend to focus on Muslim men or overlook gender considerations. However, the intersection of religion with gender and race/ethnicity compounds these difficulties, particularly for hijabi Muslim women who often face heightened visibility and bias due to their religious attire. By employing an intersectional approach and reviewing 49 scholarly works published in English from 2000 to 2025, this scoping review paper explores Muslim women's employment and workplace challenges in the Western labor market and the strategies they employ to overcome these challenges. The findings underscore the high rate of unemployment among Muslim women, largely due to the persistence of structural discrimination in hiring practices. Avoid applying for occupations that require interactions with white non-Muslim clients, opting to skip interviews or removing headscarves are some identified strategies. In terms of workplace challenges, Muslim women encounter skepticism regarding their skills, struggle to accommodate their religious practices, and face difficulties balancing home responsibilities with work commitments. To overcome these challenges, Muslim women work hard to prove their capabilities, learn how to navigate religious practices, get support from spouses or work from home to achieve work-life balance. This review concludes by identifying research gaps and suggesting future directions to inform evidence-based policies and practices aimed at fostering an inclusive and equitable labor market.