Many Muslims in England face bleak employment prospects and endure poor standards of housing, a government-backed study has found. The report revealed Muslims were more likely than any other faith group to be jobless and living in poor conditions. It said 14% of Muslims aged over 25 were unemployed, compared with the national unemployment rate of 4%. University researchers in Birmingham, Derby, Oxford and Warwick also found Muslims had poorer levels of education. The study, commissioned to review the prospects of faith communities in England, also said Muslims were more vulnerable to long-term illness. And one in three lived in the most deprived areas of England.
For comments by Anas Altikriti of MAB, see Islam Online, 16 May 2006