Where Will Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities Be Created in the Coming Years?

Adults with disabilities are significantly less likely than people without disabilities to participate in the labour market and often experience lower earnings (Taylor et al., 2004; Pagan, 2009; Yamamoto et al., 2012), as well as limited opportunities for promotion and career advancement (Yamamoto et al., 2012). People with disabilities are only half as likely to be in employment as their peers of working age (Action Plan for Jobs, 2014). As a result people with disabilities also experience consistently higher poverty rates than people without disabilities. The Central Statistics Office publication on ‘Our Bill of Health’ based on the results of the 2011 census clearly illustrates a lower rate of employment for people with disabilities in Ireland (CSO, 2011). The majority of people with disabilities, particularly intellectual disabilities and mental health problems, continue to be excluded for the labour market (CSO, 2011).

This essay poses a number of sub questions – when discussing where employment opportunities for people with disabilities will be created in the coming years, how these employment opportunities will be created must also be considered. It is also necessary to explore some of the barriers that are currently inhibiting progress towards increasing employment levels among people with disabilities.

Why is work important?

Employment is commonly considered to be a key factor in social inclusion (Skellern & Astbury, 2012). Workplaces have been identified as centres of the community, where adults, including those with disabilities, can form networks and contribute to society (Hall & Kramer, 2009). A job can enhance the self-esteem of an individual and help them feel accepted (Nolan, 2005). The UK Department of Educatio...

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