This month’s Data Corner again examines the tracking data of National Trends In Disability Employment (nTIDE). In March 2023, the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities yet again set an all-time high of 40.2% compared to 37.8% in March 2022. This is encouraging as it means the gap is narrowing between workers with and without disabilities. Workers without disabilities also experienced an uptick in the labor force participation rate, which rose from 77.2% in March 2022 to 77.6% in March 2023.
Likewise, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities rose from 34.1% in March 2022 to 36.6% in March 2023. For those without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio increased from 74.5% to 74.9%.
The Month-to-month data showed no change in the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities from February 2023 to March 2023 – both months had a rate of 40.2%. Those without disabilities had an uptick in the labor force participation rate, rising to 77.6% in March 2023 from 77.3% in February 2023.
The month-to-month employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities fell to 36.6% in March 2023 from 36.9% in February 2023. On the other hand, the employment-to-population ratio for those without disabilities increased from 74.4% in February 2023 to 74.9% in March 2023.
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Payroll & Unemployment Rate
In the U.S. payroll employment report, the number of paid U.S. workers in all businesses, excluding those working on farms, serving in the military, volunteers, and unpaid workers in the home, rose by 236,000.
According to the DOL disability employment statistics, the unemployment rate of people without a disability was steady at 3.5%, within the range of 3-5% which is considered healthy by most economists. However, the unemployment rate amongst those with a disability is about 2.6 times higher than those without a disability, at 9%.
The unemployment rate among persons with disabilities being 2.6 times higher than those without a disability reminds us we have a lot of work to do to eliminate barriers and encourage meaningful employment.
