08: Closing the Disability Employment Gap

In October 2019, it was reported that 19% of the working age population in the UK state they have a disability. Of these, 53% are in employment. For comparison, the employment rate for people without disabilities stands at 82%. There is a clear ‘disability employment gap’. Unfortunately, the challenges don’t end once someone with a disability secures as job as evidence suggests that they are over-represented in low skilled jobs, more likely to work in jobs for which they are overqualified, and have reduced access to career progression opportunities. But why should businesses be concerned about closing the gap? Aside from the ethical argument that employers seeking to be socially responsible should strive to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce, there is a compelling case that people with disabilities represent a huge untapped resource. In this episode, Laura Steele is joined by Sean Fitzsimons, Employment Advocacy Coordinator at Disability Action, to discuss these issues and more.

Guest: Sean Fitzsimons, Disability Action
Host: Dr Laura Steele, Queen’s Management School
Sound Engineering: Stephen Mullan, Queen’s University Belfast