The level of employment for workers with disabilities increased by 22 per cent during the pandemic. From 2019 to 2023, their representation in higher-paying roles, like management and science, grew by 4% to 34.8%, outpacing non-disabled workers.
Employment rates for disabled women and men hit record highs at 36.1% and 38.2%, respectively. Women with disabilities saw the largest improvements, reducing the gender gap.
Remote work has been crucial, removing physical barriers and leveraging assistive technologies. Nationally, 13.1% of workers with disabilities work remotely, close to the 13.9% of all American workers. In states like Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, remote work rates for disabled workers surpass those of the overall workforce.
Despite a record-low unemployment rate of 7.2% for people with disabilities in 2023, it remains double the national rate of 3.5%, highlighting ongoing barriers such as job fit, accommodations, and discrimination.
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