According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 50% of persons with a disability who were not working reported some type of barrier to employment in July 2019. This can be anything from a lack of education or training to a lack of accommodations on the job.
Persons with disabilities often face many barriers when trying to obtain employment, which can lead to higher unemployment rates. In this blog post, I will cover the most common barriers people with disabilities face in securing a job.
Common Barriers People with Disabilities Face When Trying to Obtain Employment?
When seeking employment, people with disabilities often face several barriers that those without disabilities do not. These can include:
A person’s own disability
This can be a significant hurdle for people with disabilities when seeking employment. Often, they are not hired because the employer assumes they will not be able to do the job or that they will require too much time off for medical appointments.
They may have limitations in what they are able to do or how well they can do it, which can make them seem like less desirable candidates for some jobs.
Lack of education or training
People with disabilities are often disproportionately uneducated, making it difficult for them to find a job in today’s market.
Education and training are essential for finding gainful employment, and without them, it can be tough to break into the workforce. However, even if they have the necessary skills, they may not have the qualifications many employers are looking for.
Lack of transportation
Access to reliable transportation is essential for getting to and from work. If a person with a disability does not have their own transportation, it can be difficult for them to find employment.
Public transportation is not always accessible or reliable, and many jobs are in areas that are not easily accessible without a car.
The need for special features on the job
Some jobs require specific accommodations that people with disabilities may not be able to provide. This can include special equipment, software, or physical modifications to the workplace.
Furthermore, mobility issues can make it difficult for people with disabilities to get around the office or factory floor.
Difficult Work Hours
Most jobs have set hours that employees are expected to work. However, for people with disabilities, these hours may not be feasible because of their disability. This is especially difficult for those who need to take medication or attend doctor’s appointments during the day.
If the person relies on someone else for their transportation, they may also face difficulty getting to work on time or finding a job that aligns with their available hours.
This can lead to difficulties in completing work duties or even losing the job altogether.
How Do These Barriers Impact the Workforce and Businesses in America Today?
These barriers can make it challenging for people with disabilities to find gainful employment and often result in them being underemployed or unemployed altogether. Therefore, addressing these issues is essential for helping people with disabilities obtain and maintain employment.
Employer Challenges
Employers also face significant challenges when trying to employ people with disabilities. These include:
Lack of understanding or awareness about disability accommodations
Many employers do not understand what accommodations are necessary for employees with disabilities or how to provide them. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflict on the job.
When accommodations are not provided, employees with disabilities can often feel marginalized or left out of the workplace culture.
Lack of experience with disability hiring
Many employers have little or no experience hiring people with disabilities, which can lead to difficulties assessing candidates and making decisions about who to hire.
If an employer is not familiar with the accommodations necessary for a person with a disability, they will be less likely to hire them.
Perceived productivity concerns
Many employers are concerned that people with disabilities will be less productive than their non-disabled employees. Unfortunately, this misconception can lead to hesitation in hiring people with disabilities and reluctance to provide accommodations that could help them be more productive.
Additionally, many employers are not familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and what is required of them when it comes to hiring people with disabilities.
What Can Be Done to Help Remove These Barriers?
There are several things that can be done to address the barriers that people with disabilities face when trying to obtain employment:
- The government and private organizations can invest in programs to increase education and training opportunities for people with disabilities. This will help them be more competitive in the workforce.
- Employers can become more familiar with disability accommodations and what is necessary to provide an inclusive work environment.
- The government can create incentives for businesses to hire people with disabilities and offer tax breaks or other benefits.
- Public transportation systems can be improved to make them more accessible and usable for people with disabilities.
- Legislation like the ADA can be enforced to ensure that people with disabilities have the same prospects as everyone else when it comes to obtaining employment.
This is just a small sampling of the many things that need to be done to help people with disabilities obtain employment. We must continue working together to tackle these barriers and help everyone could work and contribute to our economy.
Conclusion
Often, people with disabilities face major barriers in obtaining employment. This can be due to a lack of training and education, inaccessible transportation, and the need for special accommodations at the job. These barriers can lead to unemployment or underemployment for people with disabilities.
Employers also face challenges when employing people with disabilities, including a lack of understanding or awareness about disability accommodations and productivity concerns.
Numerous things can be done to help remove these barriers and allow people with disabilities to obtain employment. We must continue working together to face these issues and help everyone work and contribute to our economy and workforce.
