Disabled people face significant barriers attempting to access the labour market and are twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people.
The gap between the employment rate of disabled people and the overall employment rate is 26.8 per cent (Labour Force Survey 1998-2006). Certain impairment groups face more significant barriers and have a lower employment rate, including individuals with a mental health condition at 20 per cent and people with a learning disability at 25 per cent (Labour Force Survey 2005).
Employment and work are seen as a key route out of poverty, and a crucial pathway to social inclusion and independent living.
The employment and benefits sub group works with government departments, through the Office of Disability Issues, to identify barriers to the labour market for disabled people sharing expertise and putting forward innovative solutions.
Equality 2025 recognises the importance of learning and skills in the modern labour market.
The skill levels of disabled people are recorded as significantly lower than those of non-disabled people, often due to the advice and opportunities available, or the structural barriers individuals face, rather than lack of ability.
Many people have to give up work following diagnosis of an ill health condition, or disability. Equality 2025 aims to identify these key issues that prevent disabled people from retaining employment and put forward innovative solutions other than clinical intervention to support people in the workplace.
Benefits are often seen as a barrier to employment and engaging with the labour market for disabled people.
Equality 2025 aims to advise government on its own objective to simplify benefits and support disabled people in knowing their benefits entitlement.
The long-term aim of Equality 2025 is to work with government to provide disabled people with the choice, empowerment and freedom to work in mainstream employment with support provided appropriate to individual needs.
Read about what Equality 2025 is doing on employment and benefits.
Page last reviewed: 11 August 2008
