This study examines the variations in the labor market position of Syrian refugee women in the Netherlands, who are at a particular disadvantage compared to refugee men, non-refugee migrants and the ethnic majority population. We examine the disadvantaged position of Syrian refugee women by focusing on origin and host country human capital, the family situation, visible Muslim identity, and gender roles. In contrast to earlier studies, we not only study whether women are employed, but also examine the work intentions of unemployed women. We rely on the survey ‘New Permit holders in the Netherlands’ (NSN 2017-2019), a large-scale, nationally representative survey of recently arrived Syrians in the Netherlands. Results show that work experience in the country of origin and a better command of the Dutch language contribute to employment among Syrian refugee women. Among those who are unemployed, we find that women with young children at home and women wearing a hijab indicate that they were unable to work, whereas traditional gender roles are associated with unwillingness to work. This study therefore shows the importance of human capital for refugee women’s employment and that the presence of young children, wearing a hijab and traditional gender roles are significant explanations for their low labour force participation.