Disability discrimination charges accounted for 37.2 percent of all EEOC filings. The agency received more than 22,000 such charges. Employment rates for disabled workers stay well below those of non-disabled workers across multiple countries.
Key Takeaways
- EEOC received 22,838 disability charges in FY2022
- In FY2021, disability charges rose 3.5% to 24,258 per EEOC
- UK 2022/23: 8,434 disability discrimination tribunal claims
- US disabled unemployment rate was 7.6% in 2022 compared to 3.5% for non-disabled
- Only 21.3% employment rate for working-age disabled in US 2022 BLS
- UK disabled employment rate 52.1% vs 81.1% non-disabled in 2023 ONS
- In 2022, disability discrimination charges accounted for 37.2% of all EEOC charges filed, totaling 22,838 charges
- 24% of people with disabilities in the US reported experiencing discrimination at work in the past 5 years according to a 2021 survey
- In the UK, 16% of disabled employees reported experiencing discrimination from managers in 2022
- EEOC 2022 merit factor disability charges: 42.3% meritorious
- EEOC FY2021 resolved 21,487 disability charges with $200M benefits
- UK 2022/23: 70% disability tribunal claims settled pre-hearing
- Disabled workers earn 72 cents per dollar of non-disabled in US 2022
- UK disabled median hourly pay £11.50 vs £13.20 non-disabled 2023
- Australia disabled weekly earnings $1,200 vs $1,500 2022
In 2022, disability discrimination cases were widespread globally, with millions affected and major economic losses.
Related reading
01 · Category
Discrimination Complaints25 stats
01
EEOC received 22,838 disability charges in FY2022
02
In FY2021, disability charges rose 3.5% to 24,258 per EEOC
03
UK 2022/23: 8,434 disability discrimination tribunal claims
04
Australia 2021-22: 2,366 disability complaints to Commission
05
Canada 2022: 1,672 disability-related human rights complaints
06
EU 2020: Over 10,000 disability discrimination complaints reported
07
California FEHA 2022: 1,200+ disability discrimination complaints
08
New York 2022: 3,500 disability charges filed with DHR
09
Texas 2021: 1,100 EEOC disability filings from state
10
Florida 2022: 900+ disability complaints to FCHR
11
2022 EEOC disability charges monetary benefits $174.6 million
12
UK 2021: Disability claims 25% of all employment tribunal cases
13
India 2022: 500+ disability complaints to NHRC
14
Brazil 2021: 4,200 labor court disability cases
15
South Africa CCMA 2022/23: 1,200 disability unfair discrimination referrals
16
Germany 2022: 5,000+ Antidiskriminierungsstelle disability cases
17
France 2022: 12,000 Défenseur des Droits disability claims
18
45% of EEOC disability charges in 2022 involved retaliation
19
Australia HRC 2022: 35% disability complaints about employment
20
Canada CHRC 2022: 28% complaints from disability in employment
21
EEOC FY2020: Disability most common basis for charges at 34.1%
22
New Jersey DCR 2022: 800 disability employment complaints
23
Pennsylvania 2021: 600+ PHRC disability filings
24
Illinois 2022: 1,000 IDHR disability charges
25
Massachusetts 2022: 700 MCAD disability complaints
Interpretation
Discrimination Complaints Interpretation
These statistics reveal the tragic consistency with which workplaces worldwide treat disability discrimination as a regrettable, yet persistent, global pastime.
02 · Category
Employment Statistics26 stats
01
US disabled unemployment rate was 7.6% in 2022 compared to 3.5% for non-disabled
02
Only 21.3% employment rate for working-age disabled in US 2022 BLS
03
UK disabled employment rate 52.1% vs 81.1% non-disabled in 2023 ONS
04
Australia disabled employment 53.4% in 2022 vs 77.1%
05
Canada 2022: 63% disabled employment rate vs 78% non-disabled
06
EU average disabled employment 50.4% in 2021 vs 73.6%
07
India 2021: 36% disabled employment participation
08
South Africa 2022: 5.7% disabled employment rate in formal sector
09
Brazil 2021: 42% disabled workforce participation IBGE
10
New Zealand 2023: 49% disabled employment vs 77%
11
Germany 2022: 54% disabled employment rate
12
France 2022: 48% disabled open employment
13
Japan 2021: 44.7% disabled employment statutory quota achievement
14
Mexico 2022: 41% disabled labor participation
15
Ireland 2023: 37.6% disabled employment vs 74.4%
16
Sweden 2022: 56% disabled employment rate
17
Netherlands 2022: 52% disabled employment
18
Norway 2022: 44% disabled employment vs 74%
19
2022 US disabled underemployment rate 13.2% BLS
20
UK 2023 disabled inactivity rate 37.9% ONS
21
Australia 2022 disabled unemployment 8.6% vs 4%
22
Canada 2023 disabled unemployment 8.9%
23
EU 2021 disabled unemployment 8.8% vs 6.4%
24
Spain 2022 disabled unemployment 20.5%
25
Italy 2021 disabled employment gap 28%
26
Poland 2022 disabled employment 27%
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
The numbers paint a grimly consistent global portrait: the workplace is an exclusive club where the door is technically ajar for people with disabilities, but a bafflingly heavy rock of bias, poor access, and outright neglect seems perpetually left in the way.
03 · Category
Prevalence Rates30 stats
01
In 2022, disability discrimination charges accounted for 37.2% of all EEOC charges filed, totaling 22,838 charges
02
24% of people with disabilities in the US reported experiencing discrimination at work in the past 5 years according to a 2021 survey
03
In the UK, 16% of disabled employees reported experiencing discrimination from managers in 2022
04
A 2020 study found 43% of disabled workers in Australia faced workplace discrimination
05
31% of US workers with disabilities reported unfair treatment in promotions due to disability in 2019
06
In Canada, 19% of disabled employees experienced discrimination in 2021 per Statistics Canada
07
EU data shows 22% of disabled workers faced discrimination in 2019 Eurostat survey
08
28% of disabled veterans in the US reported workplace discrimination in 2020 VA study
09
In India, 35% of disabled workers reported discrimination per 2021 NSSO survey
10
41% of autistic adults in the UK faced employment discrimination in 2022 NAS report
11
26% of US disabled women reported gender and disability discrimination combined in 2021
12
South Africa 2020 survey: 29% disabled workers discriminated against
13
33% of disabled employees in Brazil reported discrimination in 2022 IBGE data
14
New Zealand 2021: 21% disabled workforce faced bias
15
Germany 2019: 25% disabled workers reported discrimination
16
France 2022: 27% disabled employees experienced exclusion
17
Japan 2020: 18% disabled workers faced discrimination per MHLW
18
32% of US remote disabled workers still reported discrimination in 2021 pandemic survey
19
Ireland 2022: 23% disabled job applicants discriminated
20
Sweden 2021: 20% disabled workforce bias incidents
21
Netherlands 2020: 24% disabled employees reported unfair treatment
22
30% of disabled workers in Mexico faced discrimination in 2022 ENSANUT
23
Norway 2019: 22% disabled employment discrimination
24
28% of disabled academics in US universities reported discrimination 2021
25
Belgium 2022: 19% disabled workers bias
26
Austria 2021: 26% disabled employment discrimination
27
Denmark 2020: 21% disabled workforce issues
28
Finland 2022: 25% disabled discrimination reports
29
Switzerland 2019: 23% disabled workers affected
30
27% of disabled workers in Spain reported discrimination in 2021 INE
Interpretation
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
The statistics from across the globe paint a relentlessly consistent and damning picture: the modern workplace, for all its talk of inclusivity, often functions as a stubbornly exclusive club where discrimination against disabled employees is not the rare, shocking exception, but a shockingly common and unaddressed rule of operation.
More related reading
04 · Category
Resolution and Enforcement22 stats
01
EEOC 2022 merit factor disability charges: 42.3% meritorious
02
EEOC FY2021 resolved 21,487 disability charges with $200M benefits
03
UK 2022/23: 70% disability tribunal claims settled pre-hearing
04
Australia 2021-22: 85% disability complaints conciliated successfully
05
Canada 2022: 65% disability complaints resolved by mediation
06
EEOC 2022 filed 11 disability lawsuits
07
France 2022: 60% Défenseur des Droits disability cases closed favorably
08
Germany 2022: 75% ADS counseling led to resolutions
09
Brazil TST 2021: 40% disability labor suits won by plaintiffs
10
South Africa CCMA 2022: 55% unfair discrimination arbitrations upheld
11
California DFEH 2022: 75% disability cases resolved with relief
12
New York DHR 2022: $50M in disability complaint resolutions
13
EEOC systemic disability investigations up 20% in 2022
14
UK EAT 2022: 15% disability appeals successful
15
Australia Federal Court 2022: 12 disability discrimination judgments
16
Canada Federal Court 2021: 80% disability human rights upheld
17
EU CJEU 2022: Key disability employment rulings in 5 cases
18
India 2022: 30% disability complaints successful in courts
19
2022 EEOC disability mediation success rate 72.1%
20
Texas EEOC resolutions 2022: $15M for disability
21
Florida FCHR 2022: 68% probable cause findings in disability
22
EEOC conciliation success for disability 30.4% in 2022
Interpretation
Resolution and Enforcement Interpretation
While employers globally continue to fumble the fairly straightforward task of not discriminating, the data screams that if you do, the odds are spectacularly good you’ll be paying out—often without ever making it to a dramatic courtroom showdown.
05 · Category
Socioeconomic Impacts23 stats
01
Disabled workers earn 72 cents per dollar of non-disabled in US 2022
02
UK disabled median hourly pay £11.50 vs £13.20 non-disabled 2023
03
Australia disabled weekly earnings $1,200vs $1,500 2022
04
Canada disabled median income 20% lower 2021
05
EU disabled poverty risk 28% vs 21% general 2021
06
US disabled poverty rate 25.7% vs 11.9% 2022 Census
07
40% of disabled workers report mental health decline due to discrimination 2021 study
08
UK disabled households 50% more likely in fuel poverty 2022
09
Brazil disabled Gini coefficient impact +5% inequality 2021
10
South Africa disabled unemployment costs economy R100B yearly 2022
11
Germany disabled wage gap 15% 2022
12
France disabled employment income 30% lower 2022
13
Japan disabled productivity loss ¥2T annually 2021
14
Mexico disabled GDP contribution gap 2% 2022
15
Ireland disabled household income 25% below average 2022
16
Sweden disabled social assistance reliance 3x higher 2022
17
Netherlands disabled benefit claims 40% workforce 2022
18
Norway disabled long-term sick leave 10x higher 2022
19
US $490B lifetime earnings loss for disabled 2022 estimate
20
Australia $20B annual economic cost of disability exclusion 2022
21
Canada $50B GDP loss from disabled unemployment 2021
22
EU €275B annual cost of disability employment gap 2021
23
55% disabled workers report career stagnation due to discrimination 2021 US survey
Interpretation
Socioeconomic Impacts Interpretation
It seems the global economy has tragically mastered the art of creating “dis-abled” workers by systematically disabling their wages, opportunities, and well-being, all while meticulously calculating the exorbitant price tag of its own prejudice.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Disability Discrimination In The Workplace Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/disability-discrimination-in-the-workplace-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Disability Discrimination In The Workplace Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/disability-discrimination-in-the-workplace-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Disability Discrimination In The Workplace Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/disability-discrimination-in-the-workplace-statistics.
Sources & references
73 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level