Disability and employment statistics

Often society can disable people more than health condition or disability, with attitudes and assumptions preventing people from reaching their work-related goals.

Employment statistics show the imbalance between disabled and non disabled people in employment.

We believe everyone should have the right to work. That’s why we’re committed to supporting disabled and disadvantaged people into employment and to live more independent lives.

• There are currently 1.2 million disabled people in the UK who are available for and want to work
• Only half of disabled people of working age are in work (50%), compared with 80% of non disabled people
• Employment rates vary greatly according to the type of impairment a person has; only 23% of people with mental health problems are in employment
• 24% of disabled people have no qualifications compared to 9% of non disabled people
• Nearly one in five people of working age (6.9 million, or 19%) in Great Britain are disabled
• The average gross hourly pay for disabled employees is £10.68 compared to £11.74 for non disabled employees.

Source: Office for National Statistics Labour Force Survey, Oct - Dec 2007

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