If you’re an employer, you need employees to keep your company or organization in business. But are you looking at all labor markets? People with disabilities represent a talented, untapped labor market. The World Health Organization states that there are over a billion people with disabilities in the world – that is about 15% of the world’s population — making PwD the world’s largest minority group, larger than estimated (World Health Organization, 2011). The unemployment rate for persons with a disability of working age was 10.5 percent in 2016 (World Health Organization), about twice that of those with no disability (4.6 percent) which leaves many qualified individuals with disabilities on the lookout for a job. As you seek to fill open positions, consider hiring qualified people with disabilities. When you hire a competent person with a disability, you’ll bring benefits to your company’s bottom line and benefits to your customers and community.
The following podcast covers how people with disabilities have skills, abilities and experience that can add value in the workplace. By expanding your search for talented employees and making your workplace accessible, you will benefit find the right person with the right skills for the job. It is a win-win solution.
The ROI of Hiring People with Disabilities
World Health Organization. (2011). World report on disability. [Fact Sheet]. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/factsheet.pdf?ua=1
Bureau of Labour Statistics. (2017, June 21). Persons with a Disability: Labour Force Characteristics Summary. Economic News Release. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.nr0.htm