DE&IThe state of inclusion this National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and what’s needed nextWorkers with disabilities have made strides in employment, representation, and accommodations, but gaps remain.
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ByKristen Parisi
October 25, 2024
• 4 min read
As National Disability Employment Awareness Month comes to an end, many disability leaders have pointed out how much progress disabled workers have made since the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990. Despite advancements, disabled workers still face barriers to success and employers can do more.
Employment. The current unemployment rate of disabled workers is 7.2%, a record low since the Bureau of Labor Statistics started tracking the figure in 2009 and down from a high of 15% in 2012, according to the Center for American Progress. These record gains in recent years are thanks to assistive technologies and the increased availability of remote work, HR Brew previously reported.
However, even at its lowest rate, the unemployment rate for disabled people is still double the rate for the non-disabled population, and disabled people are twice as likely to work part-time. Disabled workers also report discrimination in the interview process, and job applicants frequently aren’t sure if employers will [...]