Labor Bureau Releases Statistics Related to Employment Barriers for Persons With Disabilities

Author: Peggy Carter-Ward, XpertHR Head of Content

In light of a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, employers should review their internal policies regarding flexible work arrangements in order to recruit and retain qualified employees with disabilities. The BLS report revealed that half of job seekers with disabilities reported a barrier to employment over the last year. These barriers to employment were due to:

Further, half of employees with disabilities experienced difficulty completing their job duties over the same period.

A small percentage of those surveyed reported using career assistance programs within the prior year, while about half had received financial assistance (e.g., workers' compensation or Social Security disability income).

Employees (as opposed to job seekers) with disabilities were least likely to have received financial assistance. The cost associated with providing a reasonable accommodation is less than the cost of not providing one. In addition, employees with disabilities were most likely to have flexible work schedules.

Additional Resources

Employee Management > Managing Employees in Special Situations

Employee Management > Disabilities (ADA)

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