GITNUX MARKETDATA REPORT 2024

Disability Discrimination In The Workplace Statistics [Fresh Research]

Highlights: The Most Important Disability Discrimination In The Workplace Statistics

  • 30% of disabled workers in the UK say that they’ve been treated unfairly at work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • In the US in 2021, 21% of people with a disability participated in the labor force, compared to 67% of people without a disability.
  • One in four US adults has a disability that impacts major life activities, including work.
  • 61% of disabled employees have experienced discrimination or bias in their workplace.
  • Disabled employees in the UK are paid around 12.2% less per hour than their non-disabled counterparts.
  • 76% of UK employers have taken no positive actions to improve workplace inclusivity for disabled employees in the past 12 months.
  • Disability discrimination reports make up over 30% of the total discrimination reports against employers in Australia.
  • In 2018, the EEOC secured $129 million in monetary benefits resulting from disability claims filed in the US.
  • 1 in 5 companies in the US admit they’re unlikely to hire a disabled candidate due to the anticipated cost of accommodations.
  • People with disabilities make up roughly 6% of the US workforce.
  • 57% of people with disabilities do not have accommodations in place in their workplace.
  • Around 37% of US employees with disabilities are employed part-time, compared to 17% without disabilities.
  • The employment-population ratio for disabled people was 33.3% in Australia in 2018, compared to 79.1% for those without disabilities.
  • 90.3% of disabled workers in Canada receive no special accommodations in their jobs.
  • Women with disabilities in Europe are 20% less likely to be employed than non-disabled women.
  • In the European Union, 47.4% of disabled people aged between 20 and 64 are employed, compared to 72.5% of those without disabilities.
  • The unemployment rate for disabled people in the UK has remained almost twice as high as the rate for non-disabled people over the past five years.
  • In India, only 23.8% of disabled urban employees have access to necessary accommodations, compared to 57% of rural workers.

Our Newsletter

The Business Week In Data

Sign up for our newsletter and become the navigator of tomorrow's trends. Equip your strategy with unparalleled insights!

→ Learn more about our Newsletter

Table of Contents

Disability discrimination in the workplace is a serious issue that affects millions of people. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked or ignored. In this blog post, we will take a look at the statistics surrounding disability discrimination in the workplace.

Disability Discrimination In The Workplace: The Most Important Statistics

Approximately 1 in 5 working-age people in the UK have a disability, and physical access to the workplace is a major barrier to finding a job for 75% of young disabled people.

The employment population ratio for people with a disability increased by 1.2% points in 2021, while the ratio for those without a disability increased by 1.9% points.

Women with disabilities face higher rates of unemployment and lower rates of full-time employment than both men with disabilities and women without disabilities.

Disability Discrimination In The Workplace: Statistics Overview

3% of those with a disability and 7% of those without a disability wanted a job in 2021, with less than 1% of disabled people and 2% of those without disabilities being marginally connected to the workforce.

The presented data indicates a notable difference in job seekers between disabled individuals and their non-disabled counterparts, suggesting potential discrimination towards the former in the employment sphere. Addressing this issue is crucial.

Approximately 1 in 5 working-age people in the UK have a disability, and physical access to the workplace is a major barrier to finding a job for 75% of young disabled people.

The prevalence of disability in the UK workforce is illustrated by this statistic, which also brings attention to the obstacles that disabled individuals encounter while searching for employment as a result of physical access barriers. Moreover, it underlines how employers might feel uneasy about possible accusations of discrimination if a job opportunity for a disabled person doesn’t work out, causing a reluctance to hire them.

The employment population ratio for people with a disability increased by 1.2% points in 2021, while the ratio for those without a disability increased by 1.9% points.

The significance of this data lies in the fact that the impact of COVID-19 on the job market persists, and a greater proportion of individuals with disabilities work for themselves compared to those who do not have disabilities.

Disabled workers have historically faced high levels of discrimination in the workplace, as evidenced by the 24,238 disability discrimination claims resolved by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2019 and the low employment rate of 17.9% of disabled American adults.

The above statement emphasizes the widespread occurrence of discrimination against individuals with disabilities in work settings and emphasizes the importance of employers establishing policies and procedures that promote inclusivity and fairness. Disability-based workplace discrimination can manifest in various ways, including direct or indirect forms, neglect to implement reasonable accommodations, discrimination that results from having a disability, harassment, and mistreatment.

30% of disabled workers in the UK say that they’ve been treated unfairly at work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A mere 55% of workers with disabilities reported receiving complete workplace accommodations, with 30% claiming to have received only partial adjustments and 16% stating that they received none at all. In addition, a significant 25% expressed feeling unsafe while at work during the pandemic, citing the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus as the cause.

In the US in 2021, 21% of people with a disability participated in the labor force, compared to 67% of people without a disability.

Compared to the previous year, there was an increase of 1.2 million people who self-identified as having a disability in 2021. Out of the total disabled population who were part of the workforce, there were 496,000 more individuals. The month of April in 2020 saw a peak of 18.9% unemployment rate amongst disabled workers.

Disability Discrimination In The Workplace Statistics About Women

Women with disabilities face higher rates of unemployment and lower rates of full-time employment than both men with disabilities and women without disabilities.

The data indicates that women who have disabilities are encountering distinct difficulties that remain unattended. The figure emphasizes the urgency of implementing more extensive measures and programs that guarantee equal job prospects for women with disabilities compared to their counterparts. It also serves as a reminder that disability discrimination in the workplace is still an issue that needs to be addressed.

Persons with disabilities are 24.4 percentage points less likely to be employed than persons without disabilities, with only 48.3% of women with disabilities and 28.5% of men with disabilities working full-time.

The above information underscores the notable differences in job prospects between individuals with and without disabilities. As such, it serves as a clear indication that employers must make a conscious effort to ensure that those with disabilities are granted the same employment chances as others.

Women with disabilities constitute 25.9% of the total population of women in the EU. EU figures indicate that about 49% of women with disabilities, aged 20-64, are employed compared to 53.9% of men with disabilities of the same age group.

A mere 20% of disabled women are employed full-time in contrast to disabled men who are at 29%. The reason behind this gender-based pay gap among disabled individuals is the prevalence of stereotypes, bias, and disability. Besides, women tend to spend more time doing informal unpaid work and taking care of their families.

Supplementary Statistics

One in four US adults has a disability that impacts major life activities, including work.

This highlights the importance of creating an inclusive workplace environment that is free from discrimination and provides equal opportunities for all.

61% of disabled employees have experienced discrimination or bias in their workplace.

It highlights the fact that, despite the progress made in recent years, there is still a long way to go in terms of creating an inclusive and equitable workplace for disabled employees. This statistic serves as a call to action for employers to take steps to ensure that all employees are treated fairly and with respect.

Disabled employees in the UK are paid around 12.2% less per hour than their non-disabled counterparts.

This is a powerful indicator of the systemic inequality that exists in the workplace and should be addressed in order to ensure that all employees are treated fairly and equitably.

76% of UK employers have taken no positive actions to improve workplace inclusivity for disabled employees in the past 12 months.

It highlights the need for employers to take action to ensure that disabled employees are not discriminated against in the workplace. It also serves as a warning that employers must take steps to ensure that disabled employees are not excluded from the workplace and that their rights are respected.

Disability discrimination reports make up over 30% of the total discrimination reports against employers in Australia.

It is a call to action for employers to take steps to ensure that their workplace is free from discrimination and that all employees are treated fairly and with respect.

In 2018, the EEOC secured $129 million in monetary benefits resulting from disability claims filed in the US.

Despite the legal protections in place, many individuals with disabilities are still facing discrimination in the workplace. This statistic serves as a call to action for employers to take proactive steps to ensure that their workplaces are free from disability discrimination.

1 in 5 companies in the US admit they’re unlikely to hire a disabled candidate due to the anticipated cost of accommodations.

Despite the legal protections in place, many companies are still unwilling to hire disabled candidates due to the perceived cost of accommodations. This statistic is a powerful illustration of the systemic barriers that disabled people face in the workplace and the need for further action to ensure that everyone has equal access to employment opportunities.

People with disabilities make up roughly 6% of the US workforce.

This highlights the fact that people with disabilities are a significant part of the workforce, and that their rights and experiences must be taken into account when discussing workplace discrimination.

57% of people with disabilities do not have accommodations in place in their workplace.

Despite the legal protections in place, many people with disabilities are still not receiving the accommodations they need to be successful in their jobs. This statistic serves as a call to action for employers to ensure that they are providing the necessary accommodations for their employees with disabilities.

Around 37% of US employees with disabilities are employed part-time, compared to 17% without disabilities.

People with disabilities are still more likely to be employed part-time than those without disabilities. This disparity in employment opportunities can have a significant impact on the financial security of those with disabilities, as well as their overall quality of life.

The employment-population ratio for disabled people was 33.3% in Australia in 2018, compared to 79.1% for those without disabilities.

It highlights the disparity between the employment-population ratio of disabled people and those without disabilities, demonstrating the need for greater efforts to ensure disabled people have equal access to employment opportunities.

90.3% of disabled workers in Canada receive no special accommodations in their jobs.

The majority of disabled workers in Canada are not receiving the special accommodations they need to be successful in their jobs, and that this is a widespread issue that needs to be addressed.

Women with disabilities in Europe are 20% less likely to be employed than non-disabled women.

There is a need for employers to take action to ensure that disabled women are given the same opportunities as non-disabled women. This statistic is a call to action for employers to create an inclusive workplace environment that is free from discrimination and provides equal opportunities for all.

In the European Union, 47.4% of disabled people aged between 20 and 64 are employed, compared to 72.5% of those without disabilities.

Disabled people are significantly less likely to be employed than those without disabilities, indicating that there is a clear need for greater efforts to be made to ensure that disabled people are not excluded from the workforce.

The unemployment rate for disabled people in the UK has remained almost twice as high as the rate for non-disabled people over the past five years.

Thus, despite efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable environment, disabled people are still facing a disproportionate amount of unemployment compared to their non-disabled counterparts. This statistic is a powerful indicator of the need for further action to be taken to ensure that disabled people are given the same opportunities as everyone else.

The US Bureau of Labour Statistics states that organisations that promote a diverse and inclusive workplace, including disability, gain a competitive advantage and increase job satisfaction.

This is especially pertinent in the context of disability discrimination in the workplace, as it serves to remind employers of the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all employees.

In India, only 23.8% of disabled urban employees have access to necessary accommodations, compared to 57% of rural workers.

It shows the need for greater awareness and action to ensure that all disabled workers, regardless of their location, have access to the same resources and opportunities.

Conclusion

Overall, disability discrimination in the workplace is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Despite the fact that there have been some improvements in recent years, there is still a long way to go.

Employers should take steps to ensure that their workplace is free of discrimination and that all employees are treated fairly and with respect.

Additionally, it is important for employees to be aware of their rights and to report any instances of discrimination that they may experience. By doing so, we can all work together to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

References

Mydisabilityjobs: “Disability Discrimination in the Workplace – Statistics – Update 2023”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Kallidus: “Disability discrimination in the workplace: the gruelling reality for many UK workers”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Edf-Feph: “Gender Equality Index 2021: what does it say on disability?”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Edf-Feph: “Disability and Gender Gaps. The difficult situation of women with disabilities in the labour market”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Bls: “19.1 percent of people with a disability were employed in 2021”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Fastcompanyme: “The employment rate for disabled workers is higher than it has been in years”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Benefits: “Disability Discrimination in the Workplace”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Equalityhumanrights: “Disability discrimination”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Oshwiki: “Discrimination in the workplace”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Edf-Feph: “Employment Policy”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Tuc: “Nearly one in three disabled workers surveyed treated unfairly at work during the pandemic – new TUC polling”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Americanprogress: “COVID-19 Likely Resulted in 1.2 Million More Disabled People by the End of 2021—Workplaces and Policy Will Need to Adapt”, cited February 2023. (Source)

Edf-Feph: “Disability and Gender Gaps. The difficult situation of women with disabilities in the labour market”, cited February 2023. (Source)

FAQs

What is disability discrimination?

Disability discrimination is when an employer discriminates against an employee or job applicant with a disability in any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, benefits, and any other term or condition of employment.

What are the different types of disability discrimination?

There are four types of disability discrimination: direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, failure to make reasonable adjustments, and harassment.

What are the consequences of disability discrimination?

The consequences of disability discrimination can include loss of wages, emotional distress, and even physical harm.

What are the legal protections for people with disabilities?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides legal protections for people with disabilities, including the right to reasonable accommodations in the workplace.

What should employers do to prevent disability discrimination?

Employers should create a culture of inclusion and respect for people with disabilities. They should also provide training on disability discrimination, create a clear anti-discrimination policy, and ensure that any job requirements are necessary and not discriminatory.

How we write our statistic reports:

We have not conducted any studies ourselves. Our article provides a summary of all the statistics and studies available at the time of writing. We are solely presenting a summary, not expressing our own opinion. We have collected all statistics within our internal database. In some cases, we use Artificial Intelligence for formulating the statistics. The articles are updated regularly.

See our Editorial Process.

Table of Contents

... Before You Leave, Catch This! 🔥

Your next business insight is just a subscription away. Our newsletter The Week in Data delivers the freshest statistics and trends directly to you. Stay informed, stay ahead—subscribe now.

Sign up for our newsletter and become the navigator of tomorrow's trends. Equip your strategy with unparalleled insights!