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Employment–population ratio for people with a disability increases to series high in 2023
March 05, 2024
In 2023, the labor force participation rate (24.2 percent) and the employment–population ratio (22.5 percent) for people with a disability continued to rise. Both measures are the highest they have been since these data were first reported in June 2008. The unemployment rate for people with a disability (7.2 percent) changed little over the year and reached a series low in 2023.
Labor force characteristics of people 16 years and over by disability status, 2009–23
Year
Labor force participation rate, with a disability
Labor force participation rate, with no disability
Employment–population ratio, with a disability
Employment–population ratio, with no disability
Unemployment rate, with a disability
Unemployment rate, with no disability
2009
22.4
70.9
19.2
64.5
14.5
9.0
2010
21.8
70.1
18.6
63.5
14.8
9.4
2011
20.9
69.7
17.8
63.6
15.0
8.7
2012
20.6
69.4
17.8
63.9
13.4
7.9
2013
20.3
68.9
17.6
64.0
13.2
7.1
2014
19.5
68.7
17.1
64.6
12.5
5.9
2015
19.5
68.5
17.5
65.0
10.7
5.1
2016
20.0
68.5
17.9
65.3
10.5
4.6
2017
20.6
68.6
18.7
65.7
9.2
4.2
2018
20.8
68.4
19.1
65.9
8.0
3.7
2019
20.8
68.7
19.3
66.3
7.3
3.5
2020
20.5
67.1
17.9
61.8
12.6
7.9
2021
21.3
67.1
19.1
63.7
10.1
5.1
2022
23.1
67.8
21.3
65.4
7.6
3.5
2023
24.2
68.1
22.5
65.8
7.2
3.5
The employment–population ratio for people with no disability was 65.8 percent in 2023, nearly three times the rate of people with a disability. The lower employment–population ratio among people with a disability (22.5 percent) reflects, in part, the older age profile of people with a disability; older workers are less likely to be employed regardless of disability status. The unemployment rate for people with a disability (7.2 percent) continued to be about twice as high as the rate for people with no disability (3.5 percent) in 2023.
United States Department of Labor
