We want to join many other groups celebrating Disability Employment Awareness Month, observed in many countries during October, which provides a critical platform to highlight these disparities and push for systemic change.
Today we want to draw the attention of Irish employers to alarming statistics from Mercer Global Data Sets that highlight how far companies still need to go in recognising disability as an essential component of diversity.
These figures paint a stark picture, particularly in Ireland, where people with disabilities face overwhelming barriers to employment. Despite the disability community being the world’s largest diversity group, they are given the least attention by corporations.
The Situation in Ireland
Ireland, like many other nations, continues to struggle with high unemployment rates among persons with disabilities. According to a 2022 report by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), the employment gap between people with disabilities and those without remains significant. People with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as their non-disabled counterparts. The European Disability Forum (EDF) further highlights that only about 32% of persons with disabilities in Ireland are employed compared to the EU average of 51%.
This neglect not only affects economic productivity but also perpetuates poverty and social exclusion for those living with disabilities. The lack of meaningful engagement with disability issues within corporate diversity frameworks, as reflected in the low 5% recognition rate, means that the needs of these individuals are not being adequately addressed in workplace environments. Companies that fail to include persons with disabilities in their diversity and inclusion strategies are missing out on a pool of talent that can bring unique perspectives and strengths to their businesses.
Why Disability Employment Awareness Matters
Disability Employment Awareness Month is crucial for highlighting the importance of disability inclusion in the workplace. Just as with other diverse groups, raising awareness underscores the compelling benefits of creating an inclusive environment for all.
The following are reasons you might already be familiar with:
- Tapping into an underutilised talent pool: Persons with disabilities bring valuable skills, innovation, and perspectives, which can lead to enhanced problem-solving and creativity within organisations just like those without disabilities.
- Reflecting the broader community: Companies that embrace disability as part of their diversity strategies better represent the communities they serve, promoting inclusivity and fairness.
- Driving social change: Prioritising disability employment strengthens businesses and fosters a more just and equal society where all individuals have access to meaningful work.
The Path Forward
Ireland has taken some steps toward addressing this issue, such as offering incentives to employers to hire persons with disabilities and improving workplace accessibility (Work and Access Scheme). However, these efforts need to be reinforced with a broader corporate and societal commitment to disability inclusion. Companies must shift from merely acknowledging disability to actively incorporating it into their diversity policies.
The data from the Mercer Global Data Sets serves as a wake-up call. If companies can focus 90% of their efforts on gender issues and 75% on race and ethnicity, they must also expand their diversity initiatives to include persons with disabilities, who make up a significant and diverse segment of the population.
As Disability Employment Awareness Month comes to an end, we want to encourage businesses in Ireland and globally to step up and close the disability employment gap. This is not only about fairness and equality; it is about enriching workplaces and creating a future where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive.
Act now by contacting us as we provide training about disability in the workplace and our upcoming webinar that explains the different Work and Access Schemes provided by the government of Ireland.
Contact
For more information or to request free training for your organisation, contact Employers for Change at info@employersforchange.ie
Employers for Change is an employer disability information service and a program of the Open Doors Initiative, funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The service empowers employers with all the information and advice needed to hire, employ, manage and retain staff with disabilities