Why Hiring People with Disabilities is Good for Business

Business trends in staffing show that hiring people who have disabilities adds a valuable dimension to workforce recruiting. In fact 20% of our population has a health condition that may or may not affect the way they interact with their work environment. And that number is on the rise.

Today hiring people who have disabilities benefits human resource strategy and improves the bottom line because, in general, people who have disabilities:

Are a strategic target in addressing future workforce shortages.
Increase the pool of talent from which companies can recruit.
Demonstrate high levels of performance, productivity and loyalty, which in turn helps build stronger employee engagement overall.
Contribute significantly to innovating company processes and products.
Open new market opportunities because the $1.5 trillion market they represent would rather spend money with companies that employ people who have disabilities.
Offer attractive returns on employee investments.

Did you know...

For every five people in your organization, it is likely one has a disability. This means you already employ people who have disabilities, and increasing your knowledge will only increase your positive results without major change.

According to the United States Census Bureau 2007 fact sheet, nearly 20% of the population in the United States (51.2 million) have a condition that can be classified as a disability. 12% of the population report having a condition that can be classified as a severe disability.

Educated and Talented
Qualified Workforce
Return on Investment
Attract Customers
Diverse Professions

Educated and Talented

People Who Have Disabilities Widen The Talent Pipeline

Studies show that creative thinkers and innovators express a high interest in working for organizations that are known for diversity and inclusiveness. Studies also show that employees with disabilities not only add to the diversity picture, they bring competitive knowledge, new perspectives, and loyalty to the workplace, contributing significantly to the bottom line.

Employees Who Have Disabilities Are Talented And Educated

College graduates with disabilities debunk the myth that people who have disabilities are somehow less educated, and therefore less qualified, than their non-disabled coworkers.

For more comprehensive information on how hiring people who have disabilities can attract talent through diversity for your business, visit The National Center for Education Statistics and use keyword 'college navigator.'
Qualified Workforce

Hiring People Who Have Disabilities Addresses Future Workforce Needs

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2006 and 2016 total job openings will increase more rapidly than in the past, while the labor force filling these jobs is projected to grow more slowly than in the past. This slowdown in the growth of the labor force may indicate future workforce shortages.
- Over the next three decades, 61 million Americans will retire.
- The U.S. Department of Labor estimates there will be 165 million jobs and only 162 million people available in the workforce.
- 60% of new jobs in the United States will require skills held by only 20% of the current workforce.
Current statistics about people who have disabilities as a sector of the general population show that they are a growing segment of the population, are educated, talented and are proven performers with a track record for loyalty. They are an untapped, valuable staffing source.
Return on Investment

Employees Who Have Disabilities Yield Attractive Returns

The return on investment when you employ people who have disabilities starts with cost savings and profit. When studied as a group, these employees contribute unique skills, perspectives, and work ethics that help reduce employment costs overall.
- Reduce turnover and recruitment costs when you expand your access to talent that tends to exhibit long-term loyalty.
- Avoid productivity losses incurred from unfilled positions.
- Create more efficient work processes through new perspectives and abilities.
- Leverage tax incentives, when applicable, ranging from $2,400 - $15,000.
For more comprehensive information on how hiring people who have disabilities can improve hiring ROI for your business, visit the Employer Assistance and Resource Network and use keyword 'ROI.'
Attract Customers

Hiring People Who Have Disabilities Creates New Market Opportunities

According to Market Research, Inc., 52 million Americans who have disabilities represent the third-largest market segment today. Of all people who have disabilities:
- 73% are heads of households
- 48% are principal shoppers
- 58% own their own homes
One-third of the 70 million U.S. families have at least one family member who has a disability. Representing a market of consumers with over $1.5 trillion in discretionary income, they prefer to purchase products and services from businesses that understand and meet their needs.

In fact, 93% of the total population would prefer to spend money with businesses that hire people who have disabilities, according to a national survey cited by Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

For more comprehensive information on how hiring people who have disabilities can open new market opportunities for your business, visit Diversity Inc. and use keyword 'disability market.'
Diverse Professions

Minnesotans Who Have Disabilities Span All Job Types And Professions

People who have disabilities can be found throughout workforce, in colleges, trade schools and training programs. They represent a significant, untapped pool of talent that businesses are now actively recruiting to meet growing workforce needs.
- More than 11,000 previously unemployed people who have a disability used vocational rehabilitation services to gain employment in the past five years.
- Almost 40% of college students report having a disability, and they are entering the workforce today. Graduation rates for this demographic group vary little from the rest of the population, with interests and study areas nearly matching the same spectrum as their fellow students.
- According to the 2008 American Community Survey Military veterans in the United States in 2008 totaled 23.2 million people and nearly 24% (5.5 million) of those veterans have a disability. Minnesota veterans have similar graduation, disability, and unemployment rates as non-veterans.