New Data on Disabled in the Labor Force

Today the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released a detailed overview on the employment of Persons with a Disability: Labor Force Characteristics, 2009. This is the first time the BLS has conducted extensive research on disabled persons in the US workforce. The information was gathered from a monthly survey of about 60,000 households that provided statistics on employment and unemployment in the United States. Below are some highlights of the study:

• For all age groups, the employment-population ratio was much lower for persons with a disability than for those with no disability

• The unemployment rate of persons with a disability was well above the rate of those with no disability

• Nearly one-third of workers with a disability were employed part time, compared with about one-fifth of those with no disability

Given these findings, US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis is determined to increase the number of persons with disabilities into the US workforce. Her mission statement is sure to increase what is expected from federal contractors regarding outreach and accommodations for the disabled, “We will use this information to help increase service capacity and accessibility to workforce development systems including one-stop-career centers and ensure that people with disabilities have access to employment support, transportation, housing, and other support services. We will make sure that people who want to work can work.”

In related news, the OFCCP has been shifting more focus to the effectiveness of Action Oriented Programs, which is why it is crucial for federal contractors to be as proactive and involved as possible with their outreach programs. Below is a list of resource sites employers can use to help incorporate persons with disabilities into their workforce.

• http://www.business-disability.com/services.aspx
• http://askjan.org/cgi-win/TypeQuery.exe?902
• http://www.earnworks.com
• http://jobaccess.org/
• http://www.gettinghired.com/Employers.aspx

Click here to read the full BLS report http://www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.nr0.htm