Employment is hovering around all-time highs for

East Hanover, NJ – July 7, 2023 – June job numbers remain at an all-time high for people with disabilities, according to current National Trends in Disability Employment – ​​the semi-monthly update (nTIDE), released by the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire Institute for Disabilities (UNH-IOD). NTIDE experts warn that employing people with disabilities could be negatively affected by further anti-inflation efforts by the Federal Reserve.

Month-to-Month Tide Figures (comparing May 2023 to June 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 (age 1664) increased very slightly from 36.9 percent in May 2023 to 37.0 percent in June 2023 (up 0.3 percent or 0.1 percentage point). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio also increased from 75.0 percent in May 2023 to 75.5 percent in June 2023 (an increase of 0.7 percent or 0.5 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).

“The employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities is hovering around a historical high. We see a similar pattern for those without disabilities, where the ratio is about the same as last month,” said John O’Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at the Kessler Foundation. “This pattern suggests that the Federal Reserve’s efforts to slow the labor market to curb inflation may have the desired effect on people with and without disabilities.”

Regarding labor force participation, the labor force participation rate of persons with disabilities (ages 16-64) decreased from 40.2 percent in May 2023 to 39.7 percent in June 2023 (a decrease of 1.2 percent or 0.5 percentage point). For people with disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate increased from 77.6 percent in May 2023 to 78.4 percent in June 2023 (an increase of 1 percent or 0.8 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).

“In the months ahead, the Federal Reserve will likely take further action to reduce inflation, which could negatively impact employment and labor participation for people with disabilities,” reports Andrew Houtenville, PhD, professor of economics and UNH-IOD research director.

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

Compared to the same month last year, the labor force participation rate of persons with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 38.1 percent in June 2022 to 39.7 percent in June 2023 (an increase of 4.2 percent or 1.6 percentage points) . For persons with disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate also increased from 77.6 percent in June 2022 to 78.4 percent in June 2023 (an increase of 1 percent or 0.8 percentage point).

Similarly, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities of working age (ages 16-64) increased from 34.9 percent in June 2022 to 37 percent in June 2023 (an increase of 6 percent or 2.1 percentage points). For the working-age population without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio has also increased from 74.8 percent in June 2022 to 75.5 percent in June 2023 (an increase of 0.9 percent or 0.7 percentage point).

In June, among workers aged 16-64, 6,250,000 workers with disabilities represented 4.1 percent of the total 150,910,000 workers in the US

Ask Questions about Disabilities and Employment

Each nTIDE release is followed by an online nTIDE Lunch & Learn webinar. This live broadcast, hosted via 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 July 7, 2023, at 12:00 PM Eastern, Stephanie Enyart, JD, chief public policy and research officer at the American Foundation for the Blind, joined Drs. O’Neill and 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.

Also, register now for our mid-month Deeper Dive into employment trends at nTIDE Deeper Dive – 7/21/2023.

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)

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Chart:

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

Description: This graph compares labor market indicators for May 2023 and June 2023, showing increases in the employment-to-population ratio for people with and without disabilities. The labor force participation rate decreased slightly for persons with disabilities and increased for those without disabilities.

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

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