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Unemployment remains high for individuals with disabilities

The Department of Labor reports 150,000 new jobs last month, though these jobs have had little effect on the unemployment rate of Americans with disabilities. Unemployment was a steady 14.5 percent for individuals with disabilities in the same month, even with the first economic upturn since the Spring of 2010. The national average for typical unemployed Americans is currently 9.6 percent. Economists and advocacy groups for individuals with disabilities have conducted studies on these figures: Mlive reports:

According to a recent study conducted by the Kessler Foundation/National Organization on Disability, 21 percent of  working-age Americans with a disability had a job in the past year compared to 59 percent of those without physical disabilities.

This population was only considered at the federal level for the past few years; previous to 2008, the Department of Labor did not record the employment rate for Americans with a disability. The Labor Department began to record statistics of Americans with a disability over 16 years of age who are not in permanent care facilities. However, reports were not available until 2009. Currently, statistical reports are released every month. One of these recent reports by the Labor Department states that workers with disabilities have a 300 percent greater chance of holding a part-time position than typical workers. Some groups have attempted to untangle the issues surrounding why workers with a disability hold such a higher unemployment rate than their typical peers. Americans with a disability still looking for work point to fear of discrimination lawsuits and perceived cost of accommodations to be sources of employers’ reluctance to hire. Nick Gutwein, president of BraunAbility, points to employer’s fear as being a major factor. The mobility manufacturer and disabled quality of life advocate, says:

"More so than the fear about cost is the problem of ignorance," Gutwein said. "Employers aren't used to working with people with disabilities and they don't know if they will be productive employees."

The confusion has not given all companies the perception that employees with disabilities are a liability; companies like Safe Nest have 50 percent of their positions being filled by individuals with disabilities.  Walgreens has built distribution plants with the majority of its employees having a disability. Pizza Hut has roughly 3000 employees with a disability through their Jobs Plus program; they report a turnover rate for employees in the Jobs Plus program at nearly eight times less than typical employees. Marriott Corporation founded the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities, which provides Marriott Bridges program. The program partners high school students that have a disability with their communities to offer internship opportunities as a springboard for future employment. Nick from BraunAbility says,

“People with disabilities can offer a lot to employers; they've learned how to overcome obstacles and solve problems. They're motivated to succeed."

As the Department of Labor continues to release more data on employment practices concerning the disabled, companies will have greater resources to see the effect of hiring practices on this population. As more companies like Safe Nest, Walgreens, Pizza Hut, and Marriott Corporation hire more employees with disabilities, the statistics reported will show Nick Gutwein’s statement to be true; employees with disabilities are creative problem solvers, loyal, and extremely motivated.