According to the Pew Research Center, 46% of Americans 75 or older and 24% of Americans aged 65 to 74 report having a disability.
On August 21st each year, Americans recognize the contributions of older adults in all aspects of society as part of Senior Citizens Day. Older adults contribute significantly to the American economy, with around 22% donating $1,000 or more each year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that seniors account for 20-25 hours of unpaid labor in the home every week. Seniors also vote historically at a rate higher than other groups. We celebrate the contributions of older adults with disabilities to society on this awareness day and every other day of the year.
Monthly Employment Update for People with Disabilities
The labor force participation rate for people with disabilities rose to a record high of 40.4% compared to 37.3% in July 2022.
According to the July 2023 National Trends In Disability Employment (nTIDE) report:
- Workers without disabilities also increased their labor force participation rate, which was 77.8% in July 2022 and rose to 78.4% in July 2023.
- The employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities rose from 34.4% in July 2022 to 37.3% in July 2023, compared to those without disabilities, whose employment-to-population ratio increased slightly from 75.0 to 75.5%.
This means that the labor force participation rate and employment population ratio are increasing faster for people with disabilities than for the community overall, which is very encouraging as we work to close the gap.
Payroll & Unemployment Rate
- In the U.S. payroll employment report, the number of paid U.S. workers in all businesses rose by 187,000 (excluding those working on farms, serving in the military, volunteers, and unpaid workers in the home).
- According to the DOL disability employment statistics, the unemployment rate of people without a disability was steady at 3.7%, within the range of 3-5% deemed healthy by most economists. However, the unemployment rate among those with a disability continued to be disproportionately higher at 7.6% (up from 6.8% compared to June 2023).
