The National Business & Disability Council

February 2010 Disability Employment Statistics Released

With the latest statistics released for January 2010, the numbers provided were not too promising for the disability population compared to their nondisabled counterparts. According to the BLS, in January 2010, the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.8 compared with 70.1 for persons with no disability. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 15.2 percent, compared with 10.4 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted.

In December 2009, the percentage of people with disabilities in the work force was 21.6 compared with 70.0 for persons with no disability. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 13.8 percent, compared with 9.5 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted.

As one can see, comparatively speaking, although both groups percentage in the workforce had risen a small percentage, the number of people without disabilities in the labor force is over three times that of people with disabilities.

In addition, although both groups unemployment rate had raised closely, the percentage of people with disabilities unemployed is 1 ½ times that of people without disabilities. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, February, 2010).

Read about the February Disability Employment Statistics http://www.dol.gov/odep/index.htm.