Despite the sharp decline, jobs still exist

East Hanover, NJ – May 5, 2023 – The fall in April jobs for people with disabilities raises concerns about the future of the job market, according to the current National Trends in Disability Employment – ​​the semi-monthly update (nTIDE), released by the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disabilities (UNH-IOD). To assess whether these changes signal a slowdown in job gains for people with disabilities, nTIDE experts will be closely watching the direction of employment indicators next month.

Month-to-Month Tide Figures (comparing March 2023 to April 2023)

Based on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employment Report released today, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities of working age (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) decreased from 36 .6 percent in March 2023 to 35.6 percent in April 2023 (down 2.7 percent or 1.0 percentage point). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio increased from 74.9 percent in March 2023 to 75.1 percent in April 2023 (an increase of 0.3 percent or 0.2 percentage point). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, reflects the percentage of people who are employed relative to the total population (number of people employed divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).

“Given the sizeable drop in the employment-to-population ratio in April, the job gains experienced by persons with disabilities over the past two years are likely to stall. At the same time, people without disabilities experienced a small increase in their employment-to-population ratio,” said Andrew Houtenville, PhD, professor of economics and research director of the UNH-IOD. “This decline for people with disabilities is likely to be more than just seasonal fluctuations and/or sample variations. We will look to the next month to see if people’s jobs recover or continue to decline,” he added.

With regard to labor force participation, the labor force participation rate of persons with disabilities (ages 16-64) decreased from 40.2 percent in March 2023 to 38.3 percent in April 2023 (a decrease of 4.7 percent or 1.9 percentage points). For people with disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate also decreased from 77.6 percent in March 2023 to 77.4 percent in April 2023 (a decrease of 0.3 percent or 0.2 percentage point). The labor force participation rate reflects the percentage of people who are in the labor force (employed, temporarily laid off, furloughed, or actively looking for work in the last four weeks) relative to the total population (number of people in the labor force). force divided by the total population multiplied by 100).

“Despite the disappointing April numbers, the employment and workforce participation of persons with disabilities remains above levels seen pre-COVID and in April 2022,” said John O’Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at the Kessler Foundation. “With the Federal Reserve continuing to raise interest rates to slow the economy, we expect the job market to be impacted at some point in the coming year,” he added.

In April, among workers aged 16-64, 5,743,000 workers with disabilities represented 3.8 percent of the total 150,217,000 workers in the US

Year-over-Year TIDE Figures (comparing April 2022 to April 2023)

Compared to the same month last year, the labor force participation rate of persons with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 37.5 percent in April 2022 to 38.3 percent in April 2023 (an increase of 2.1 percent or 0.8 percentage point) . For persons with disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate also increased from 76.9 percent in April 2022 to 77.4 percent in April 2023 (an increase of 0.7 percent or 0.5 percentage point).

Regarding employment, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities of working age (ages 16-64) increased from 34 percent in April 2022 to 35.6 percent in April 2023 (an increase of 4.7 percent or 1.6 percentage points). For the working-age population without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio also increased from 74.5 percent in April 2022 to 75.1 percent in April 2023 (an increase of 0.8 percent or 0.6 percentage point).

Ask Questions about Disabilities and Employment

Each nTIDE release is followed by an online nTIDE Lunch & Learn webinar. This live broadcast, hosted via a Zoom Webinar, offers attendees Q&A on the latest findings of nTIDE, provides news and updates from the field, and features invited panelists discussing the latest disability-related findings and events.

On May 5 2023, at 12.00 WIB, Jade Gingerich, director of Employment Policy for the Maryland Department of Disabilities, joins Dr. Houtenville and Denise Rozell of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). Join our free Lunch & Study in person or visit the nTIDE archive at: ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE.

Sign up now for our mid-month Deeper Dive into employment trends in n TIDE Deeper Dive – 19/5/2023 | Disability Research Center

NOTE: Statistics in nTIDE are based on BLS numbers but are not identical. The data was adjusted by UNH to combine statistics for men and women of working age (16-64). nTIDE is funded by the Kessler Foundation and was originally funded by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (90RT5037).

About the Institute for Disabilities at the University of New Hampshire

The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) was founded in 1987 to provide a university-based focus for enhancing knowledge, policy and practice relating to the lives of people with disabilities and their families. For information about the NIDILRR-funded Center for Research and Training on Disability Statistics, visit ResearchOnDisability.org.

About the Kessler Foundation
The Kessler Foundation, a major disability nonprofit, is a global leader in rehabilitation research. Our scientists strive to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes, including employment, for adults and children with neurological and developmental disabilities of the brain and spinal cord including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and autism. . The Kessler Foundation also leads the country in funding innovative programs that expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.

Press Contacts at the Kessler Foundation:
Deborah Hauss, (email protected)
Carolann Murphy, (email protected)

Stay Connected with the Kessler Foundation
Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | iTunes & SoundCloud

Chart:

Title: NTIDE Year-over-Year Comparison of Labor Market Indicators for Persons with Disabilities and Without Disabilities

Note: This graph compares labor market indicators for April 2022 and April 2023, showing increases for persons with disabilities and non-disabilities.

Title: NTIDE Month-to-Month Comparison of Labor Market Indicators for Persons with Disabilities and Without Disabilities

Caption: This graph compares labor market indicators for March 2023 and April 2023, showing a sharp decline in the labor force participation rate for persons with disabilities and a slight increase for those without disabilities. The employment-to-population ratio decreased for persons with disabilities and increased slightly for persons with disabilities.