Whether you’re on #TeamWFH or #TeamOffice, you can’t deny that the work-from-home movement has been a game-changer for many disabled people.
As Bloomberg reports, Americans with disabilities achieved a record-high participation rate (since 2008, anyway) this past summer. Specifically, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force force participation rate (LFPR) for persons with a disability in 2019 (pre-pandemic) was 20.8% while the LFPR for persons with disability in Sept 2022 (post-pandemic) is 38%. Big increase.
The unemployment rate for that same group was 7.3% in 2019 and 8.3% in Sept 2022. The slight rise in unemployment could be due to the significant increase in LFPR which includes persons in the workforce who previously were not.
The ability to work from home is a huge benefit to people with mobility challenges and also gives disabled workers the privacy they may need to attend to physical needs during the workday.
But it’s not all about the employees. Employers, too, benefit greatly from this additional asset to the workforce. People who have held off from applying for certain in-person jobs in the past are now showing up, adding more fresh talent to the workforce.
As a recruiter and business proponent, I’m encouraged to see this trend continue.
#HRtrends
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