Religious Identity Matters in Access to the Labour Market in India: Challenges Experienced by Muslims in Search of Livelihood

This study examines labour market inequalities faced by Muslims in India, highlighting the role of structural exclusion and religious discrimination in shaping employment outcomes. The findings show that Muslims are disproportionately concentrated in self-employment and casual wage labour, with limited access to regular salaried jobs, social security, paid leave, and stable workplaces, contributing to economic vulnerability. Decomposition analysis indicates that discrimination significantly influences labour market disparities, including lower labour force participation, higher informality, and lower wages. The study emphasizes the need for targeted public policies, including anti-discrimination measures, entrepreneurship support, skill development programmes, social security expansion, and gender-sensitive employment initiatives to improve labour market inclusion.