How to start with employment of people with disabilities
When discussing workplace diversity, many employers hesitate to include people with disabilities, worrying about lower performance or higher costs. In reality, hiring people with disabilities is a smart business decision.
As data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU‑SILC) show, labor market participation among persons with disabilities across Europe remains substantially lower than among those without disabilities. Managers may underestimate the size of this talent pool when recruiting. In 2023, 26.8% of the EU population aged 16 and over had some form of disability.
About 101 million people, or one in four adults across the EU
The share of women with disabilities was higher than that of men in all member states. In the EU, on average, 29.2% of the total female population has a disability, compared to 24.3% of the total male population (Source: Eurostat, 2023).
Lower employment rates among people with disabilities often stem from employers’ misconceptions about work capabilities. Research shows the opposite: when companies build disability knowledge and align individual strengths with organizational needs, they gain significant competitive advantages.
Across all disability types, strategic inclusive recruitment and tailored workplace supports create better job matches, which drive higher productivity and help organizations outpace competitors in meeting evolving market demands.
Companies that lead in disability inclusion achieve 1.6x more revenue, 2.6x more net income, and 2x more economic profit than peers, while also reducing turnover by up to 30% (Accenture, Disability:IN; 2023).
Start with internships for transition-age candidates
Internships offer an ideal entry point for employers new to disability hiring. Programs established with community partners come with built-in educational support systems, allowing employers to test roles while receiving guidance from more experienced professionals. This minimizes risk and helps build confidence in inclusive recruitment practices.
Join our information webinars:
· For employers: September 25 at 11:00 AM (Registration link)
· For job seekers, educators, NGOs: September 25 at 5:00 PM (Registration link)
