GITNUXREPORT 2025

Deaf Employment Statistics

Deaf employment struggles persist; communication barriers, discrimination, and limited opportunities

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Only 30% of deaf students graduate college, compared to 66% of hearing students

Statistic 2

Over 60% of deaf adults who are unemployed have not completed high school

Statistic 3

Approximately 23% of deaf individuals aged 25 and over have a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 36% of hearing counterparts

Statistic 4

Less than half of deaf high school graduates pursue post-secondary education

Statistic 5

About 35% of deaf adults have access to employment-specific training programs

Statistic 6

The literacy rate among deaf adults is estimated at approximately 60%, lower than the hearing population

Statistic 7

The employment rate for deaf individuals in the U.S. was approximately 36.4% in 2020

Statistic 8

Deaf individuals are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to hearing individuals

Statistic 9

Only about 22% of deaf Americans are employed full-time

Statistic 10

Approximately 70% of deaf youth aged 16-24 are unemployed or out of school

Statistic 11

The participation rate of deaf adults in the labor force is about 48%, much lower than the national average of 62%

Statistic 12

The unemployment rate for deaf people in the UK is around 40%, significantly higher than the national average

Statistic 13

in the U.S., only about 20% of deaf adults are employed full-time in the private sector

Statistic 14

Deaf women face higher unemployment rates, around 41%, compared to deaf men at 33%

Statistic 15

The overall employment-population ratio for deaf individuals is approximately 25%, versus 65% for the general population

Statistic 16

Only about 14% of deaf individuals are employed in professional occupations

Statistic 17

The unemployment rate for deaf youth (16-24) is approximately 27%, significantly higher than hearing youth

Statistic 18

Deaf workers are more likely to be employed in service and manual labor jobs, with only 18% in managerial roles

Statistic 19

Deaf individuals report a satisfaction rate of about 55% with their employment status, compared to 75% among hearing workers

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The proportion of employed deaf individuals online in telecommuting jobs reached 55% in 2022, a rise of 15% over five years

Statistic 21

The rate of health insurance coverage among employed deaf individuals is about 80%, similar to the general employed population

Statistic 22

The median annual income for deaf Americans is approximately $25,000, compared to $50,000 for hearing Americans

Statistic 23

The median hourly wage for deaf workers is approximately $12, compared to $22 for hearing workers

Statistic 24

Less than 15% of deaf individuals are employed in management, business, science, and arts occupations

Statistic 25

Deaf individuals are underrepresented in STEM fields, comprising about 3-4% of STEM workers

Statistic 26

The rate of self-employment among deaf individuals is about 15%, nearly double that of hearing individuals

Statistic 27

The participation of deaf individuals in entrepreneurship has increased by 12% over the past five years

Statistic 28

The percentage of deaf professionals in leadership roles remains below 5%

Statistic 29

Deaf-owned businesses are estimated to constitute about 2% of small businesses nationwide

Statistic 30

34% of deaf individuals report experiencing workplace discrimination

Statistic 31

Approximately 50% of deaf workers report having difficulty communicating with colleagues

Statistic 32

Sign language interpreters in workplaces increase the employment rate of deaf employees by facilitating communication

Statistic 33

Nearly 60% of deaf adults who are employed report facing communication barriers at work

Statistic 34

In a survey, 70% of deaf workers have experienced some form of workplace harassment or discrimination

Statistic 35

Approximately 80% of deaf workers do not have access to proper assistive technologies in their workplaces

Statistic 36

The percentage of deaf individuals with employment protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is around 60%

Statistic 37

Only 12% of employers have workplace policies specifically supporting deaf employees

Statistic 38

About 65% of deaf workers have accessible communication tools at work, such as interpreters or captions

Statistic 39

Deaf workers who receive job accommodations are 30% more likely to be employed than those who do not

Statistic 40

Fewer than 10% of companies in the U.S. have active efforts to recruit deaf applicants

Statistic 41

Deaf employees are more likely to experience burnout due to communication barriers, with 45% reporting high stress levels

Statistic 42

Access to sign language interpreters in the workplace increases the likelihood of employment for deaf individuals by 25%

Statistic 43

Immersion in workplace culture improves employment retention among deaf workers by approximately 20%

Statistic 44

Corporate diversity initiatives that include deaf employees have increased by 25% over the past decade

Statistic 45

Only around 10% of employment support programs are specifically tailored for deaf job seekers

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Key Highlights

The employment rate for deaf individuals in the U.S. was approximately 36.4% in 2020
Deaf individuals are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to hearing individuals
Only about 22% of deaf Americans are employed full-time
The median annual income for deaf Americans is approximately $25,000, compared to $50,000 for hearing Americans
Approximately 70% of deaf youth aged 16-24 are unemployed or out of school
Less than 15% of deaf individuals are employed in management, business, science, and arts occupations
The participation rate of deaf adults in the labor force is about 48%, much lower than the national average of 62%
34% of deaf individuals report experiencing workplace discrimination
Only 30% of deaf students graduate college, compared to 66% of hearing students
Over 60% of deaf adults who are unemployed have not completed high school
Approximately 50% of deaf workers report having difficulty communicating with colleagues
The unemployment rate for deaf people in the UK is around 40%, significantly higher than the national average
Deaf individuals are underrepresented in STEM fields, comprising about 3-4% of STEM workers

Despite significant advancements, deaf individuals in the U.S. face an alarmingly low employment rate of just 36.4%, highlighting ongoing barriers that demand urgent attention and inclusive solutions.

Education and Skill Development

Only 30% of deaf students graduate college, compared to 66% of hearing students
Over 60% of deaf adults who are unemployed have not completed high school
Approximately 23% of deaf individuals aged 25 and over have a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 36% of hearing counterparts
Less than half of deaf high school graduates pursue post-secondary education
About 35% of deaf adults have access to employment-specific training programs
The literacy rate among deaf adults is estimated at approximately 60%, lower than the hearing population

Education and Skill Development Interpretation

These stark disparities in educational attainment, employment opportunities, and literacy among deaf individuals highlight a critical need for systemic change to bridge the growing gap and unlock the full potential of the deaf community.

Employment Rates and Workforce Participation

The employment rate for deaf individuals in the U.S. was approximately 36.4% in 2020
Deaf individuals are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to hearing individuals
Only about 22% of deaf Americans are employed full-time
Approximately 70% of deaf youth aged 16-24 are unemployed or out of school
The participation rate of deaf adults in the labor force is about 48%, much lower than the national average of 62%
The unemployment rate for deaf people in the UK is around 40%, significantly higher than the national average
in the U.S., only about 20% of deaf adults are employed full-time in the private sector
Deaf women face higher unemployment rates, around 41%, compared to deaf men at 33%
The overall employment-population ratio for deaf individuals is approximately 25%, versus 65% for the general population
Only about 14% of deaf individuals are employed in professional occupations
The unemployment rate for deaf youth (16-24) is approximately 27%, significantly higher than hearing youth
Deaf workers are more likely to be employed in service and manual labor jobs, with only 18% in managerial roles
Deaf individuals report a satisfaction rate of about 55% with their employment status, compared to 75% among hearing workers
The proportion of employed deaf individuals online in telecommuting jobs reached 55% in 2022, a rise of 15% over five years
The rate of health insurance coverage among employed deaf individuals is about 80%, similar to the general employed population

Employment Rates and Workforce Participation Interpretation

Despite some progress in telecommuting and insurance coverage, the stark employment disparities and high unemployment rates for deaf individuals—especially youth and women—highlight a pressing need for systemic change to ensure equal opportunities in the workforce.

Income and Wage Statistics

The median annual income for deaf Americans is approximately $25,000, compared to $50,000 for hearing Americans
The median hourly wage for deaf workers is approximately $12, compared to $22 for hearing workers

Income and Wage Statistics Interpretation

Despite their talents and work ethic, deaf Americans earn roughly half of what their hearing counterparts do, highlighting a stark employment gap that echoes the need for greater inclusion and parity in the workforce.

Representation and Entrepreneurship

Less than 15% of deaf individuals are employed in management, business, science, and arts occupations
Deaf individuals are underrepresented in STEM fields, comprising about 3-4% of STEM workers
The rate of self-employment among deaf individuals is about 15%, nearly double that of hearing individuals
The participation of deaf individuals in entrepreneurship has increased by 12% over the past five years
The percentage of deaf professionals in leadership roles remains below 5%
Deaf-owned businesses are estimated to constitute about 2% of small businesses nationwide

Representation and Entrepreneurship Interpretation

Despite notable strides in self-employment and entrepreneurial growth among deaf individuals, their underrepresentation in management, STEM fields, and leadership roles underscores the persistent structural barriers that silence their full potential in the workforce.

Workplace Accessibility and Support

34% of deaf individuals report experiencing workplace discrimination
Approximately 50% of deaf workers report having difficulty communicating with colleagues
Sign language interpreters in workplaces increase the employment rate of deaf employees by facilitating communication
Nearly 60% of deaf adults who are employed report facing communication barriers at work
In a survey, 70% of deaf workers have experienced some form of workplace harassment or discrimination
Approximately 80% of deaf workers do not have access to proper assistive technologies in their workplaces
The percentage of deaf individuals with employment protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is around 60%
Only 12% of employers have workplace policies specifically supporting deaf employees
About 65% of deaf workers have accessible communication tools at work, such as interpreters or captions
Deaf workers who receive job accommodations are 30% more likely to be employed than those who do not
Fewer than 10% of companies in the U.S. have active efforts to recruit deaf applicants
Deaf employees are more likely to experience burnout due to communication barriers, with 45% reporting high stress levels
Access to sign language interpreters in the workplace increases the likelihood of employment for deaf individuals by 25%
Immersion in workplace culture improves employment retention among deaf workers by approximately 20%
Corporate diversity initiatives that include deaf employees have increased by 25% over the past decade
Only around 10% of employment support programs are specifically tailored for deaf job seekers

Workplace Accessibility and Support Interpretation

Despite legislative protections and burgeoning diversity efforts, the stark reality remains that a significant majority of deaf workers face communication barriers, discrimination, and inadequate workplace accommodations—highlighting that true inclusion requires much more than policies on paper; it demands proactive, accessible engagement that transforms employment statistics from grim to equitable.