Disabled workers untapped resource for growth

12/06/07 17:52

Improving the skills and employment rate of disabled people would boost the economy by £13bn, a new report has found.

The report, conducted by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) and the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), argued that despite recent progress, disabled people are far less likely to be skilled, have qualifications or be in employment than the rest of the population.

Just 50% of disabled people are currently employed, compared to 75% of the population as a whole, yet bringing the employment rate of disabled people in line with the national average would benefit the economy by £13bn, it was claimed.

However the report, entitled Disability, Skills and Work: Raising our ambitions, argued that to achieve this a number of myths surrounding the employability of disabled people need to be dispelled.

For instance, the report found that 45% of small firms believe it would be quite or very difficult to employ a disabled person.

Furthermore, although the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) stipulated that employers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, just 15% of small firms have made such alterations in order to recruit disabled staff.

Stephen Evans, chief economist at the SMF and the report’s author, argued that the benefits of recruiting and retaining disabled workers, who make up a fifth of the population, must be made clear to businesses.

He said: “There is a huge lack of information and awareness in a number of parts of the economy and society, particularly among small firms.

“There is also a misconception of cost. The vast majority of adjustments cost less than £300 and a lot of businesses don’t realise government help is available – both advice and financial assistance.”

Speaking at yesterday’s launch of the report’s findings, secretary of state for work and pensions, John Hutton, revealed a new government initiative to debunk the myths surrounding employing disabled people.

Employ Ability, which will be launched in September, will also offer information to employers, making it easier for them to locate sources of advice and support.