Disabled people still disadvantaged in the workplace, says Commission report

A new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission has found that, while supporting disabled workers can greatly benefit employers and their organisations, disabled people continue to be put at a disadvantage in the workplace.

Although more than one in five adults are disabled, only half are likely to be in work, compared to four fifths of non disabled adults. Those who are able to secure employment are often not able to realise their full potential as they don’t receive the support they need from employers.

Barriers to appropriate support also means that one disabled person in six loses their job in the first year after acquiring an impairment, more than doubling two years later.

The report, ‘A Perfect Partnership’, says that closing these employment gaps between disabled workers and non-disabled workers can increase the performance of all staff across the board and benefit employers and employees alike.

There are also wider benefits for the economy when disabled people are in work, with a reduced reliance on State benefits, and the talent pool is broadened simply by supporting disabled people to work.

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