Disability Employment Facts

Disability staffing refers to the recruitment, placement, and support of individuals with disabilities in the workforce. Here are some key facts about disability staffing:

Challenges in DEI Hiring for People with Disabilities

  • According to a 2021 survey by the World Economic Forum, 54% of companies reported a lack of information or knowledge about how to hire people with disabilities
  • The same survey indicated that only 4% of companies have a specific disability inclusion strategy as part of their DEI efforts.

Bias and Discrimination in Hiring

  • A 2020 study published in the Journal of Labor Economics found that job applicants with disabilities received 26% fewer responses from employers compared to non-disabled applicants with the same qualifications.
  • 67% of people with disabilities believe that they face discrimination in the hiring process due to bias (Harvard Business Review, 2022).

Diversity Reporting and Disability Representation

  • Only 3% of Fortune 500 companies publicly report on disability employment in their DEI metrics, according to the Disability Equality Index (DEI).
  • However, 94% of companies surveyed by Disability stated that they are working to improve disability inclusion and are implementing disability-friendly policies to support hiring and retention.

Significant Untapped Workforce

  • 1.3 billion people worldwide, about 16% of the global population, live with a disability (WHO, 2022).
  • In the U.S., only 21.3% of people with disabilities were employed in 2022, compared to 65.4% of people without disabilities (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Accessibility in the Hiring Process

  • A study by Indeed found that 46% of people with disabilities have faced barriers during the job application process, such as inaccessible online application systems or interview environments.
  • 85% of companies that have made their hiring process more accessible report improvements in talent acquisition and employee satisfaction.

Growing Emphasis on Disability Inclusion in DEI

  • A report from KPMG in 2021 showed that 36% of organizations planned to increase hiring from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities, as part of their post-pandemic DEI strategies.
  • 86% of young job seekers (Gen Z and Millennials) believe that companies should be required to hire and accommodate people with disabilities as part of their DEI efforts (LinkedIn Talent Solutions, 2022).

These statistics show a growing awareness of disability inclusion in DEI hiring, but there remains a significant gap between intention and implementation. Organizations are recognizing the business and cultural value of hiring people with disabilities but still face challenges in integrating this into broader DEI initiatives.