Anyone watching the news in the last 6 months would have heard the phrase 'The Disability Employment Gap' and heard of the number of people with a disability or long-term illness not in employment.
Whilst there is growth in the number of people with a disability in employment and the rate between disabled and non-disabled people in employment (the disability gap) is narrowing, there is still a long way to go.
- In 2020 when the pandemic first hit, there was initially a widening of the gap.
- In Q2 2023 the disability unemployment rate was 7.1% compared to 3.5% for non-disabled people
- In Q2 of the same year – the disability economic inactivity rate was 42.3% compared to 14.5% for non-disabled people.
Statistics also show that – the disability employment gap is wider for people that:
- Are men
- Aged 50-64
- Have no qualifications
- Live in social housing
- Live alone
People with a disability were also more likely to be in lower skilled occupations
Official Statistic – Employment of disabled people 2023 – published 26 October 2023 – gov.uk