Access to education key for employment opportunities for people with disabilities

Today is European day of persons with disabilities, a European initiative to raise awareness of the everyday- life challenges faced by persons with disabilities.

Eurofound research shows that people with disabilities in Europe were more likely to be in employment in 2016 than in 2011. This is particularly the case for people with disabilities that have a third-level education. Despite these improvements, there remains a significant employment gap between people with and without disabilities.

Eurofound's research on the Social and employment situation of people with disabilities uses data from the 2011 and 2016 European Quality of Life Surveys to assess changes in key issues such as employment, education and training, participation in society, social protection and healthcare. It shows that the employment rates for people with disabilities increased from 41% to 50% between 2011 and 2016. This growth in employment was greater than the non-disabled population which grew from 66% to 70% during the same period.

In the audio/video piece linked below (also available here) Research Manager Daphne Ahrendt speaks about some of Eurofound's findings in relation to the intersection between education and employment for people with disabilities.

More information:

• European Commission: European day of persons with disabilities 2019
• Eurofound: Social and employment situation of people with disabilities