Disability Employment Statistics

Aug 04, 2011
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The unemployment rate among people with disabilities is high, and even higher compared to the rest of the population. A month ago, the U.S. Department of Labor released the 2011 disability employment statistics. The following numbers are based upon employment status of the civilian population by sex, age, and disability status, not seasonally adjusted.

The percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.3. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was 70.2.  The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 16.9 percent, compared with 9.0 percent for persons with no disability.

Rick Scott the governor of Florida aware of the unemployment rate among the disabled population wants to help increase job opportunities. And the first step towards that goal was the creation of the Governor’s Commission on Jobs for Floridians with Disabilities. The numbers between the years of October 2008 and June 2011, the rate of job loss among workers with disabilities exceeded that of workers without disabilities by nine percent. The commission will identify strategies to close that gap.

“Through employment, persons with disabilities increase their independence and, therefore, enjoy a better quality of life,” Gov. Scott said, in a press release on his executive order.

The Governor’s Commission on Jobs for Floridians with Disabilities will identify barriers in state and local programs that hinder employment for persons with disabilities.  They will recommend changes to Florida laws, policies and procedures that can help remove those barriers and increase employment and job opportunities for persons with disabilities, according to the governor’s office.

The governor in the process of identifying individuals to serve on the Commission and will appoint advocates, education and job-training professionals and persons with disabilities, as well as private-sector employers.

For more employment statistics, go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm

Author: Jenny Carlton

Jenny originally from Ohio (the buckeye state) moved to Chicago over 2 years ago. She has adjusted well in the big city and doesn’t even mind the cold winters, since Cleveland’s weather is pretty much the same as it is in Chicago, but with more snow. Jenny is an active, adventurous person, who loves to travel, participate in outdoor activities, and try new things.


Related posts:

  1. 5 Step Process to Increase Employment for People with Disabilities
  2. National Disability Employment Awareness Month
  3. Federal Government Plans to Boost Disability Employment
  4. US Office of Disability Employment Toolkit
  5. The economy and employment for people with disabilities