May numbers show a mixed picture for people with disabilities with labor force participation rate down and employment-to-population up, according to the recent National Trends in Disability Employment – Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). Efforts underway by the Federal Reserve to counter inflation may be dampening the progress of job seekers with disabilities, as reported by nTIDE experts.
Month-to-Month nTIDE Numbers (comparing April to May)
In the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Report released Friday, the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 34 percent in April to 34.3 percent in May (up 0.9 percent or 0.3 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio also increased from 74.5 percent in April to 74.7 percent in May (up 0.3 percent or 0.2 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, reflects the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).
“For the past eight months we have seen the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities remain above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels and also exceed historic highs dating back to 2008,” according to John O’Neill, PhD, at Kessler Foundation. “Given this recent progress, it is somewhat disappointing that the employment-to-population ratio has not continued to reach even higher levels for people with disabilities,” he added, “since employers are finding it so difficult to fill vacant positions.”
Findings were similar for May’s labor force participation rates. For working-age people with disabilities, the labor force participation rate decreased from 37.5 percent in April to 37.2 percent in May (down 0.8 percent or 0.3 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate increased from 76.9 percent in April to 77.2 percent in May (up 0.4 percent or 0.3 percentage points). The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the population that is working, not working and on temporary layoff, or not working and actively looking for work.
“The employment-to-population ratio and labor force participation rate of people with and without disabilities held steady in May, which could reflect Federal Reserve efforts to slow economic growth and get inflation in check,” remarked Andrew Houtenville, PhD, professor of economics and the research director of the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability. “Given labor market shortages, supply-chain challenges, and inflation, the lack of progress in the May job numbers could be a response to the Federal Reserve’s effort to create a soft landing for the economy,” Dr. Houtenville added.
Year-to-Year Numbers (Comparing May 2021 to May 2022)
The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 30.4 percent in May 2021 to 34.3 percent in May 2022 (up 12.8 percent or 3.9 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio also increased from 72.2 percent in May 2021 to 74.7 percent in May 2022 (up 3.5 percent or 2.5 percentage points).
For working-age people with disabilities, the labor force participation rate increased from 34.2 percent in May 2021 to 37.2 percent in May 2022 (up 8.8 percent or 3 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate also increased from 76.3 percent in May 2021 to 77.2 percent in May 2022 (up 1.2 percent or 0.9 percentage points).
In May, among workers ages 16-64, the 5,676,000 workers with disabilities represented 3.8 percent of the total 148,077,000 workers in the U.S.
[Source(s): Kessler Foundation, EurekAlert]
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