October’s job numbers showed small changes for Americans with and without disabilities, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD).
Although people with disabilities have remained engaged in the labor market, the ongoing effects of the pandemic and uncertainty about continued federal aid are major concerns as the year draws to a close.
nTIDE COVID Update
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Report released Friday, the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 28.3% in September to 29.2% in October 2020 (up 3.2% or 0.9 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio also increased from 70.0% in September to 71.3% in October 2020 (up 1.9% or 1.3 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).
“While October’s gains were modest for people with and without disabilities, this is encouraging in light of the continued effects of COVID-19.
“However, we may see declines in the employment-to-population ratio next month as COVID-19 infections increase during the fall and federal aid has yet to be renewed.”
— John O’Neill, PhD, director of employment and disability research at Kessler Foundation
The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities increased from 32.7% in September to 33.3% in October 2020 (up 1.8% or 0.6 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate also increased from 75.7% in September to 76.2% in October 2020 (up 0.7% or 0.5 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 labor force participation rate improved slightly compared to last month reaching the same level compared to this time last year.
“This is good news and suggests people with disabilities are staying engaged in the workforce by either working, actively looking for work, or expecting to be recalled. It will be important to track this indicator as economic restrictions are reinstated to combat the increasing spread of COVID-19.”
— economist Andrew Houtenville, PhD, research director of the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability
Traditional nTIDE Numbers
The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 30.7% in October 2019 to 29.2% in October 2020 (down 4.9% or 1.5 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio decreased from 75.1% in October 2019 to 71.3% in October 2020 (down 5.1% or 3.8 percentage points).
The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities was the same, 33.3% in October 2019 to 33.3% in October 2020 (up 0% or 0 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate also decreased from 77.6% in October 2019 to 76.2% in October 2020 (down 1.8% or 1.4 percentage points).
In October 2020, among workers ages 16-64, the 4,344,000 workers with disabilities represented 3.1% of the total 140,340,000 workers in the US.
[Source(s): Kessler Foundation, PRWeb]
Related Content:
September nTIDE: Are Workers with Disabilities Leaving the Job Market?
August 2020 nTIDE Indicates Improving Job Numbers
July nTIDE Raises Red Flags for Workers with Disabilities
