08/28/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/29/2024 15:30
More than 4 million Californians over age 16 reported some type of disability in 2022, with over 1 million in their "prime" working years (25 to 54). Most Californians with a disability are working-but at a lower rate than working age Californians overall (58% vs. 86%). Today, historic increases in workplace flexibility offer the potential to expand and improve work opportunities.
Labor force participation among prime age Californians with a disability has increased by over 14% since 2019, while workers with no disabilities saw virtually no change. This shift likely reflects pandemic changes that improved opportunities and/or reduced barriers, such as remote work. Indeed, workers with disabilities who had some college or a college degree saw the largest increases in participation, which aligns with the kinds of jobs and workers who moved into remote work since the pandemic. Adults with disabilities who do not hold a high school diploma saw no increase.
Many adults with disabilities still face significant barriers to employment, which vary across disability type. People who report cognitive difficulties with remembering things or concentrating saw the largest jump (31%) in participation over the past few years. This jump occurred as far more Californians report cognitive issues, suggesting compositional changes could be driving some workforce gains. National trends also reflect an increase in cognitive disability, with some trends pointing toward long COVID as a contributing factor.
To better understand these trends and the policy levers to support adults with disabilities-and California's broader economy-we convened a group of policy experts, practitioners, and advocates to provide insights into the challenges facing adults with disabilities in California's workforce.
Several notable insights emerged from our conversation:
To maintain recent gains in employment among people with disabilities, work must integrate with programs that support health, personal care, and accommodation needs. Over 1 million working age Californians report a disability-that is equivalent to the number of workers the state has "lost" due to an aging population over the past two decades. Targeted policy efforts to promote an inclusive labor market will help the state reach its economic potential and ensure that all Californians benefit from-and contribute to-the state's economic engine.