Study sees disadvantages for people with disabilities
According to a new study, people with disabilities continue to be structurally disadvantaged on the labor market. In its latest inclusion barometer, Aktion Mensch in Bonn reported that companies' unwillingness to hire is the main obstacle to improvement.
"More than a quarter of companies in Germany that are obliged to do so still do not employ people with disabilities," it said.
Employers with 20 or more employees are obliged to employ people with severe disabilities. If an employer does not meet the mandatory quota of five percent, they must pay a monthly compensatory levy for every unfilled mandatory job.
According to the study by the Handelsblatt Research Institute, the number of unemployed people with disabilities fell by an annual average of around five percent in 2022 compared to the previous year - to 163,500. However, since April 2023, the figure has been higher again than in 2022, most recently at 165,700 in October. "The economic downturn has now also reached the labor market," explained Institute President Bert Rürup. The shrinking overall economic output expected for 2023 is also once again clouding the labor market opportunities of people with disabilities.
More than twice as high as the general rate
At almost 11%, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities in 2022 was still more than twice as high as the general rate. People without disabilities also had more than twice as much chance of finding a new job as people with disabilities. "Germany is still miles away from achieving equal rights - almost 15 years after the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities came into force, which describes the right to participate in the labor market," commented Aktion Menschen spokesperson Christina Marx on the situation.
The organization pointed out that almost 175,000 companies in Germany are required by law to offer at least five percent of their jobs to people with disabilities. However, the proportion of employers who had filled all mandatory positions had fallen to 39% in 2022. This is the lowest figure since the first Inclusion Barometer was published in 2013, while more than one in four companies still do not employ any people with disabilities. Despite the shortage of skilled workers, these companies are recklessly foregoing the potential of inclusion, according to Marx. In comparison, there are more well-qualified specialists among people with disabilities, she emphasized.
Aid organizations like Aktion Mensch have highlighted the role of employer attitudes in the labor market disadvantages faced by individuals with disabilities. Despite legal obligations, over a quarter of companies in Germany fail to employ people with disabilities, as stated in Aktion Mensch's inclusion barometer.
To address this issue, Aktion Mensch advocates for increased awareness and inclusion within companies, emphasizing the potential benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities, such as a pool of well-qualified specialists.
Source: www.dpa.com
