The employment-population ratio for people with disabilities aged 16 and over was 22.5 percent in the US in 2023, compared with 65.4 percent for people without disabilities. US employers also reported difficulty finding accommodations as a barrier, with 56 percent citing it in 2023. Across discrimination, pay gaps, participation, and unemployment, these figures show how much access to work still depends on where people live.
Key Takeaways
- 56% of US employers reported difficulty finding accommodations as a barrier in 2023.
- In UK, 25% of disabled people cited discrimination as reason for unemployment in 2022.
- Australia survey found 40% of disabled job seekers faced attitudinal barriers in 2022.
- US men with disabilities employment rate 25.1% in 2023.
- US women with disabilities 20.2% employed 2023.
- Ages 25-54 US disabled employment 28.4%.
- In 2022, median weekly earnings for US full-time wage and salary workers with disabilities were $1,002, 78% of the $1,287 for those without.
- UK disabled workers earned 93.7p for every £1 earned by non-disabled in 2022.
- Australia median weekly earnings for disabled employees were $1,200 AUD vs $1,400 for non-disabled in 2022.
- In 2023, the employment-population ratio for persons with disabilities aged 16 and over was 22.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, compared to 65.4 percent for those without disabilities.
- In the US, 21.3% of working-age adults with disabilities were employed in 2022, versus 65% without disabilities.
- UK employment rate for disabled people was 52.1% in Q2 2023, compared to 75.9% for non-disabled.
- US persons with cognitive disabilities had employment rate of 19.2% in 2022.
- Mobility disability employment rate was 24.7% in US 2023.
- Hearing impaired US employment rate 47.8% in 2022.
Across countries, disabled workers face major barriers to employment, discrimination, and lower earnings.
Related reading
01 · Category
Barriers and Discrimination12 stats
01
56% of US employers reported difficulty finding accommodations as a barrier in 2023.
02
In UK, 25% of disabled people cited discrimination as reason for unemployment in 2022.
03
Australia survey found 40% of disabled job seekers faced attitudinal barriers in 2022.
04
EU 2021 data shows 28% of disabled unemployed due to discrimination.
05
Canada 35% of disabled reported workplace discrimination in past 5 years.
06
Japan 22% of disabled cited lack of understanding as employment barrier in 2022.
07
South Africa 48% of disabled unemployed blamed discrimination in 2019.
08
India 60% of disabled faced accessibility barriers to employment in 2021.
09
Brazil 32% reported discrimination in hiring for disabled in 2019.
10
New Zealand 29% of disabled experienced bias in recruitment in 2021.
11
Germany 18% of disabled job loss due to health deterioration barriers.
12
France 27% cited transport inaccessibility as barrier in 2022.
Interpretation
Barriers and Discrimination Interpretation
Around the globe, disabled individuals are being told "we'd love to have you," only to find the welcome mat consistently yanked away by a tangled knot of discrimination, inaccessible systems, and a glaring lack of understanding.
02 · Category
Demographic Breakdowns15 stats
01
US men with disabilities employment rate 25.1% in 2023.
02
US women with disabilities 20.2% employed 2023.
03
Ages 25-54 US disabled employment 28.4%.
04
US Black disabled employment 18.7% in 2022.
05
Hispanic US disabled 23.5% employed.
06
UK ages 16-24 disabled employment 38.9% in 2023.
07
UK 50-64 disabled 54.3% employed.
08
Australia male disabled employment 57.2% vs female 49.6% in 2022.
09
Indigenous Australian disabled employment 38.4%.
10
EU youth 15-24 disabled employment 36.2% in 2021.
11
Older EU 55-64 disabled 47.8%.
12
Canada female disabled employment 56.3% vs male 62.9%.
13
Low-income Canada disabled LFPR 55.2%.
14
Japan female disabled employment 42.1%.
15
Urban Japan disabled 45.3% vs rural 43.8%.
Interpretation
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
These statistics paint a starkly unfunny global comedy where the punchline is always the same: being disabled means your employment odds are rigged, and they get even worse if you're a woman, a person of color, or simply trying to work in the United States.
03 · Category
Earnings and Wages12 stats
01
In 2022, median weekly earnings for US full-time wage and salary workers with disabilities were $1,002,78% of the $1,287 for those without.
02
UK disabled workers earned 93.7p for every £1 earned by non-disabled in 2022.
03
Australia median weekly earnings for disabled employees were $1,200AUD vs $1,400 for non-disabled in 2022.
04
EU disabled workers had 10% lower hourly earnings on average in 2021.
05
Canada median annual income for disabled workers was CAD 35,000 vs 45,000 in 2021.
06
Japan disabled workers earned 70% of non-disabled wages in 2022.
07
South Africa disabled employees earned 15% less than non-disabled in 2019.
08
India registered disabled workers had average monthly wage of INR 12,000 in 2021.
09
Brazil disabled workers median income was BRL 1,200 monthly in 2019.
10
New Zealand disabled median hourly wage was NZD 26 vs 30 in 2021.
11
Germany disabled full-time workers earned €3,200 monthly vs €3,800 in 2022.
12
France disabled net hourly wage gap was 13% in 2022.
Interpretation
Earnings and Wages Interpretation
The international pay gap for disabled workers paints a sobering picture of a world that insists on paying a 'mobility tax' for simply existing differently.
04 · Category
Employment Rates18 stats
01
In 2023, the employment-population ratio for persons with disabilities aged 16 and over was 22.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, compared to 65.4 percent for those without disabilities.
02
In the US, 21.3% of working-age adults with disabilities were employed in 2022, versus 65% without disabilities.
03
UK employment rate for disabled people was 52.1% in Q2 2023, compared to 75.9% for non-disabled.
04
In Australia, 53.4% of people with disability aged 15-64 were employed in 2022, up from 52.4% in 2018.
05
EU average employment rate for people with disabilities aged 15-64 was 50.9% in 2021.
06
Canada's employment rate for core-aged working persons with disabilities was 59.6% in 2022.
07
In 2022, Japan's employment rate for persons with disabilities was 44.7% under the statutory quota system.
08
South Africa's employment rate for people with disabilities was 12.9% in 2019.
09
In India, only 0.37% of the workforce in organized sector had disabilities as per 2021 data.
10
Brazil's employment rate for people with disabilities aged 18-64 was 42.1% in 2019.
11
New Zealand's employment rate for disabled adults was 51.2% in 2021.
12
In Germany, 53% of people with disabilities were employed in 2022.
13
France's employment rate for disabled workers was 49% in 2022.
14
Italy reported 45.2% employment rate for disabled people aged 15-64 in 2021.
15
Sweden's rate was 60.1% for disabled employment in 2022.
16
Netherlands had 55.4% employment rate for people with disabilities in 2022.
17
Spain's employment rate for disabled was 42.8% in 2022.
18
Poland reported 37.5% employment rate for disabled in 2021.
Interpretation
Employment Rates Interpretation
While many nations are having a half-hearted race to the middle on disability employment, the global report card still shows a resounding and shameful "must try harder" across the board.
More related reading
05 · Category
Employment by Disability Type20 stats
01
US persons with cognitive disabilities had employment rate of 19.2% in 2022.
02
Mobility disability employment rate was 24.7% in US 2023.
03
Hearing impaired US employment rate 47.8% in 2022.
04
Visual impairment employment 42.3% in US.
05
UK mental health disability employment rate 44.5% in 2023.
06
Physical disability UK rate 54.2% in 2023.
07
Australia intellectual disability employment 28.9% in 2022.
08
Sensory disability Australia 58.1% employed.
09
EU autism spectrum employment rate 15-20% estimated in 2021.
10
Chronic illness EU employment 48.7%.
11
Canada developmental disability employment 35.4% in 2022.
12
Pain-related disability Canada 52.1%.
13
Japan severe disability employment 40.2% under quota.
14
Mild disability Japan 48.5%.
15
South Africa psychosocial disability unemployment high at 80%.
16
Physical disability South Africa 25% employed.
17
India locomotor disability employment 36.8%.
18
Visual handicap India 28.4%.
19
Brazil mental disorder disability employment 38.7%.
20
Multiple disabilities Brazil 30.2%.
Interpretation
Employment by Disability Type Interpretation
These statistics paint a grimly absurd portrait of a global workplace that is, at best, an obstacle course designed by a committee that forgot to include ramps, interpreters, quiet rooms, or basic human sense.
06 · Category
Labor Force Participation12 stats
01
In 2023, US labor force participation rate for persons with disabilities was 24.1%, seasonally adjusted.
02
UK labor force participation for disabled was 59.8% in Q2 2023.
03
Australia’s participation rate for disabled aged 15-64 was 61.2% in 2022.
04
EU participation rate for disabled was 59.3% in 2021.
05
Canada’s LFPR for disabled core-aged was 68.5% in 2022.
06
Japan’s LFPR for disabled was 46.8% in 2022.
07
South Africa LFPR for disabled was 48.0% in 2019.
08
India’s LFPR among disabled was 36.5% in 2021.
09
Brazil LFPR for disabled was 56.3% in 2019.
10
New Zealand LFPR for disabled was 59.7% in 2021.
11
Germany LFPR for disabled was 58.2% in 2022.
12
France LFPR for disabled was 60.3% in 2022.
Interpretation
Labor Force Participation Interpretation
It seems America is choosing to admire the remarkable untapped potential of workers with disabilities from a great distance, while other nations are at least trying to open the door a bit wider.
07 · Category
Unemployment Rates12 stats
01
In 2023 Q1, US unemployment rate for persons with disabilities was 7.9%, not seasonally adjusted.
02
UK disabled unemployment rate was 7.7% in Q2 2023, double the non-disabled rate of 3.6%.
03
Australia’s unemployment rate for people with disability was 7.8% in 2022.
04
EU unemployment rate for disabled people was 8.4% in 2021.
05
Canada’s unemployment rate for persons with disabilities was 8.9% in 2022.
06
In Japan, unemployment rate for disabled persons was 2.1% in 2022.
07
South Africa’s disabled unemployment rate was 35.1% in 2019.
08
India’s unemployment rate among registered disabled was 22.4% in 2021.
09
Brazil reported 14.2% unemployment for disabled workers in 2019.
10
New Zealand disabled unemployment rate was 8.5% in 2021.
11
Germany’s unemployment rate for disabled was 5.2% in 2022.
12
France disabled unemployment was 11.3% in 2022.
Interpretation
Unemployment Rates Interpretation
The data paints a grimly consistent global picture: while many countries fail people with disabilities in the workforce, Japan proves it can be done far better, and South Africa shows it can be tragically worse.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Disability Employment Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/disability-employment-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Disability Employment Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/disability-employment-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Disability Employment Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/disability-employment-statistics.
Sources & references
23 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level