New monthly data series on the employment status of people with a disability

In June 2008, questions were added to the Current Population Survey (CPS) to identify persons with a disability in the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and older. The addition of these questions allowed BLS to begin releasing monthly labor force data from the CPS for persons with a disability. The collection of these data is sponsored by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. Publication of CPS disability data began in February 2009 with the issuance of labor force data for January 2009. Explanatory materials are available on the frequently asked questions page. These materials provide information on comparisons with other data sources, variability of the data, and the types of data available. Additionally, links to historical data and alternate formats are located below.

In October 2009, the unemployment rate of persons with a disability was 16.5 percent, compared with 9.2 percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted. The employment-population ratio for persons with a disability was 18.1 percent, compared with 64.0 percent for persons with no disability.
Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by sex, age, and disability status, not seasonally adjusted (Numbers in thousands)
Employment status, sex, and age Persons with a disability Persons with no disability
Sept.
2009
Oct.
2009
Sept.
2009
Oct.
2009

TOTAL, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population

26,970 26,863 209,353 209,687

Civilian labor force

5,923 5,839 147,694 147,796

Percent of population in labor force

22.0 21.7 70.5 70.5

Employed

4,962 4,875 134,117 134,214

Employment-population ratio

18.4 18.1 64.1 64.0

Unemployed

961 965 13,577 13,582

Unemployment rate

16.2 16.5 9.2 9.2

Not in labor force

21,046 21,024 61,659 61,891

Men, 16 to 64 years

Civilian labor force

2,658 2,642 75,443 75,469

Percent of population in labor force

36.8 36.2 83.2 83.2

Employed

2,148 2,146 67,855 67,735

Employment-population ratio

29.7 29.4 74.8 74.7

Unemployed

510 497 7,588 7,734

Unemployment rate

19.2 18.8 10.1 10.2

Not in labor force

4,570 4,652 15,246 15,238

Women, 16 to 64 years

Civilian labor force

2,410 2,361 66,443 66,461

Percent of population in labor force

32.0 31.9 71.7 71.5

Employed

2,021 1,979 60,839 60,946

Employment-population ratio

26.8 26.7 65.6 65.6

Unemployed

389 382 5,604 5,515

Unemployment rate

16.2 16.2 8.4 8.3

Not in labor force

5,129 5,040 26,280 26,453

Both sexes, 65 years and over

Civilian labor force

855 836 5,808 5,866

Percent of population in labor force

7.0 6.9 22.4 22.5

Employed

793 750 5,423 5,533

Employment-population ratio

6.5 6.2 20.9 21.2

Unemployed

62 86 385 333

Unemployment rate

7.2 10.3 6.6 5.7

Not in labor force

11,347 11,332 20,134 20,199

 

CPS disability data, October 2008 forward

For more information about the new disability data, contact the Division of Labor Force Statistics at 202-691-6378 or by email.

 

Last Modified Date: November 06, 2009