Data from the 2019 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows that while Americans with disabilities are entering the workforce in greater numbers, serious gaps in employment exist between different states. If you want to know how your state is doing on jobs for people with disabilities, the tables on this page are an easy way to find out. For more information on the data, you can read our press release.
To review the Compendium itself, please visit their outstanding website here: https://www.disabilitycompendium.org.
For Frequently Asked Questions about the Disability Statistics Compendium, please visit: https://www.disabilitycompendium.org/faq. Assistance interpreting and locating additional statistics is available via UNH’s toll-free number, 866.538.9521, or by email, disability.statistics@unh.edu
Citation: Lauer, E.A. & Houtenville, A.J., 2020. Annual Disability Statistics Compendium: 2019. Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability.
States Ranked by the Gap in Employment Rates between People with and without Disabilities
| State Ranking | States | Total Working Age People with Disabilities | # of Working-Age People with Disabilities with Jobs | People with Disabilities Employment Rate | People without Disabilities Employment Rate | Gap in Employment Rates | Job Gains and Losses in 2018 |
| U.S. | 20,212,750 | 7,602,698 | 38 | 77.8 | 40.2 | 29,893 | |
| 1st | ND | 38,215 | 21,598 | 57 | 83.4 | 26.9 | 579 |
| 2nd | SD | 53,828 | 29,037 | 53.9 | 83.2 | 29.3 | 3,618 |
| 3rd | WY | 35,797 | 17,274 | 48 | 80.5 | 32.2 | -1,789 |
| 4th | MT | 67,140 | 31,719 | 47 | 80 | 32.8 | -216 |
| 5th | NE | 106,943 | 53,637 | 50.2 | 83.6 | 33.4 | -1,754 |
| 6th | UT | 155,329 | 72,186 | 47 | 79.9 | 33.4 | -2,568 |
| 7th | AK | 51,416 | 21,966 | 43 | 76.5 | 33.8 | -1,849 |
| 8th | CO | 310,982 | 147,035 | 47 | 81.3 | 34 | 5,344 |
| 9th | NV | 184,884 | 78,230 | 42.3 | 77.2 | 34.9 | 4,262 |
| 10th | MN | 296,481 | 145,820 | 49.2 | 84.3 | 35.1 | 123 |
| 11th | ID | 117,561 | 49,464 | 42.1 | 78.1 | 36 | -5,484 |
| 12th | TX | 1,639,624 | 659,558 | 40.2 | 76.4 | 36.2 | 11,581 |
| 13th | IA | 174,957 | 81,251 | 46.4 | 82.9 | 36.5 | 3,505 |
| 14th | KS | 194,225 | 87,802 | 45.2 | 82.1 | 36.9 | -1,267 |
| 15th | AZ | 449,009 | 173,613 | 38.7 | 75.7 | 37 | 17,419 |
| 16th | MD | 341,159 | 149,359 | 43.8 | 80.8 | 37 | 7,489 |
| 17th | OR | 295,114 | 122,184 | 41.4 | 78.4 | 37 | 13,157 |
| 18th | HI | 66,355 | 28,503 | 43 | 80.1 | 37.1 | 2,957 |
| 19th | OK | 327,111 | 129,170 | 39.5 | 77 | 37.5 | 1,562 |
| 20th | WA | 478,622 | 195,251 | 40.8 | 78.8 | 38 | 303 |
| 21st | NM | 159,258 | 53,008 | 33.3 | 71.6 | 38.3 | -3,997 |
| 22nd | CA | 1,896,634 | 700,456 | 36.9 | 75.6 | 38.7 | -21,080 |
| 23rd | NH | 90,754 | 39,742 | 43.8 | 82.6 | 38.8 | 3,673 |
| 24th | VT | 44,257 | 18,761 | 42.4 | 81.4 | 39 | -3,473 |
| 25th | VA | 485,460 | 194,796 | 40.1 | 79.2 | 39.1 | -9,307 |
| 26th | CT | 180,465 | 70,229 | 38.9 | 79.4 | 40.5 | -5,867 |
| 27th | GA | 658,811 | 238,875 | 36.3 | 76.8 | 40.5 | 10,980 |
| 28th | DE | 61,531 | 22,508 | 36.6 | 77.2 | 40.6 | 2,932 |
| 29th | IL | 675,092 | 257,496 | 38.1 | 78.8 | 40.7 | -5,968 |
| 30th | WI | 322,172 | 135,105 | 41.9 | 82.8 | 40.9 | -7,180 |
| 31st | LA | 374,421 | 121,952 | 32.6 | 73.7 | 41.1 | -731 |
| 32nd | FL | 1,247,620 | 438,440 | 35.1 | 76.3 | 41.2 | 9,802 |
| 33rd | OH | 844,409 | 323,356 | 38.3 | 79.5 | 41.2 | 13,691 |
| 34th | RI | 80,903 | 30,478 | 37.7 | 79 | 41.3 | -309 |
| 35th | NJ | 417,347 | 156,502 | 37.5 | 79.3 | 41.8 | -5,227 |
| 36th | PA | 885,157 | 333,140 | 37.6 | 79.4 | 41.8 | 3,380 |
| 37th | MA | 384,133 | 146,757 | 38.2 | 80.1 | 41.9 | -2,876 |
| 38th | NC | 680,863 | 239,666 | 35.2 | 77.2 | 42 | 6,791 |
| 39th | IN | 472,444 | 178,093 | 37.7 | 79.8 | 42.1 | -6,250 |
| 40th | MI | 730,791 | 259,363 | 35.5 | 77.6 | 42.1 | 13,167 |
| 41st | NY | 1,061,050 | 360,749 | 34 | 76.8 | 42.8 | -18,202 |
| 42nd | WV | 175,002 | 49,839 | 28.5 | 71.3 | 42.8 | 640 |
| 43rd | SC | 366,373 | 122,332 | 33.4 | 76.5 | 43.1 | -457 |
| 44th | MO | 446,516 | 161,852 | 36.2 | 79.6 | 43.4 | -10,431 |
| 45th | MS | 262,760 | 74,874 | 28.5 | 72.1 | 43.6 | 1,671 |
| 46th | AL | 417,381 | 121,576 | 29.1 | 73.2 | 44.1 | 9,546 |
| 47th | TN | 552,942 | 184,851 | 33.4 | 77.2 | 43.8 | 5,802 |
| 48th | AR | 275,710 | 86,243 | 31.3 | 76.1 | 44.8 | -1,677 |
| 49th | ME | 114,014 | 42,411 | 37.2 | 82.8 | 45.6 | 2,987 |
| 50th | KY | 417,808 | 127,820 | 30.6 | 76.5 | 45.9 | -2,134 |
States Ranked by Disability Employment Rate
| State Ranking | State | Total working-age People with Disabilities | Working-age People with Disabilities employed | % Employed | Job Gains and Losses |
| 1st | ND | 38,215 | 21,598 | 56.5% | 579 |
| 2nd | SD | 53,828 | 29,037 | 53.9% | 3,618 |
| 3rd | NE | 106,943 | 53,637 | 50.2% | -1,754 |
| 4th | MN | 296,481 | 145,820 | 49.2% | 123 |
| 5th | WY | 35,797 | 17,274 | 48.3% | -1,789 |
| 6th | CO | 310,982 | 147,035 | 47.3% | 5,344 |
| 7th | MT | 67,140 | 31,719 | 47.2% | -216 |
| 8th | UT | 155,329 | 72,186 | 46.5% | -2,568 |
| 9th | IA | 174,957 | 81,251 | 46.4% | 3,505 |
| 10th | KS | 194,225 | 87,802 | 45.2% | -1,267 |
| 11th | NH | 90,754 | 39,742 | 43.8% | 7,489 |
| 12th | MD | 341,159 | 149,359 | 43.8% | 3,673 |
| 13th | HI | 66,355 | 28,503 | 43.0% | 2,957 |
| 14th | AK | 51,416 | 21,966 | 42.7% | -1,849 |
| 15th | VT | 44,257 | 18,761 | 42.4% | -3,473 |
| 16th | NV | 184,884 | 78,230 | 42.3% | 4,262 |
| 17th | ID | 117,561 | 49,464 | 42.1% | -5,484 |
| 18th | WI | 322,172 | 135,105 | 41.9% | -7,180 |
| 19th | OR | 295,114 | 122,184 | 41.4% | 13,157 |
| 20th | WA | 478,622 | 195,251 | 40.8% | 303 |
| 21st | TX | 1,639,624 | 659,558 | 40.2% | 11,581 |
| 22nd | VA | 485,460 | 194,796 | 40.1% | -9,307 |
| 23rd | OK | 327,111 | 129,170 | 39.5% | 1,562 |
| 24th | CT | 180,465 | 70,229 | 38.9% | -5,867 |
| 25th | AZ | 449,009 | 173,613 | 38.7% | 17,419 |
| 26th | OH | 844,409 | 323,356 | 38.3% | 13,691 |
| 27th | MA | 384,133 | 146,757 | 38.2% | -2,876 |
| 28th | IL | 675,092 | 257,496 | 38.1% | -5,968 |
| 29th | IN | 472,444 | 178,093 | 37.7% | -6,250 |
| 30th | RI | 80,903 | 30,478 | 37.7% | -309 |
| 31st | PA | 885,157 | 333,140 | 37.6% | 3,380 |
| 32nd | NJ | 417,347 | 156,502 | 37.5% | -5,227 |
| 33rd | ME | 114,014 | 42,411 | 37.2% | 2,987 |
| 34th | CA | 1,896,634 | 700,456 | 36.9% | -21,080 |
| 35th | DE | 61,531 | 22,508 | 36.6% | 2,932 |
| 36th | GA | 658,811 | 238,875 | 36.3% | 10,980 |
| 37th | MO | 446,516 | 161,852 | 36.2% | -10,431 |
| 38th | MI | 730,791 | 259,363 | 35.5% | 13,167 |
| 39th | NC | 680,863 | 239,666 | 35.2% | 6,791 |
| 40th | FL | 1,247,620 | 438,440 | 35.1% | 9,802 |
| 41st | NY | 1,061,050 | 360,749 | 34.0% | -18,202 |
| 42nd | TN | 552,942 | 184,851 | 33.4% | -457 |
| 43rd | SC | 366,373 | 122,332 | 33.4% | 5,802 |
| 44th | NM | 159,258 | 53,008 | 33.3% | -3,997 |
| 45th | LA | 374,421 | 121,952 | 32.6% | -731 |
| 46th | AR | 275,710 | 86,243 | 31.3% | -1,677 |
| 47th | KY | 417,808 | 127,820 | 30.6% | -2,134 |
| 48th | AL | 417,381 | 121,576 | 29.1% | 9,546 |
| 49th | MS | 262,760 | 74,874 | 28.5% | 1,671 |
| 50th | WV | 175,002 | 49,839 | 28.5% | 640 |
States Ranked by Job Gains/Losses for People with Disabilities
| State Ranking | State Name | # of People with Disabilities Employed – 2018 | # of People with Disabilities Employed – 2017 | Difference Between 2018 and 2017 aka Job Gains or Losses |
| US | 7,602,698 | 7,572,805 | 29,893 | |
| 1st | AZ | 173,613 | 156,194 | 17,419 |
| 2nd | OH | 323,356 | 309,665 | 13,691 |
| 3rd | MI | 259,363 | 246,196 | 13,167 |
| 4th | OR | 122,184 | 109,027 | 13,157 |
| 5th | TX | 659,558 | 647,977 | 11,581 |
| 6th | GA | 238,875 | 227,895 | 10,980 |
| 7th | FL | 438,440 | 428,638 | 9,802 |
| 8th | AL | 121,576 | 112,030 | 9,546 |
| 9th | MD | 149,359 | 141,870 | 7,489 |
| 10th | NC | 239,666 | 232,875 | 6,791 |
| 11th | TN | 184,851 | 179,049 | 5,802 |
| 12th | CO | 147,035 | 141,691 | 5,344 |
| 13th | NV | 78,230 | 73,968 | 4,262 |
| 14th | NH | 39,742 | 36,069 | 3,673 |
| 15th | SD | 29,037 | 25,419 | 3,618 |
| 16th | IA | 81,251 | 77,746 | 3,505 |
| 17th | PA | 333,140 | 329,760 | 3,380 |
| 18th | ME | 42,411 | 39,424 | 2,987 |
| 19th | HI | 28,503 | 25,546 | 2,957 |
| 20th | DE | 22,508 | 19,576 | 2,932 |
| 21st | MS | 74,874 | 73,203 | 1,671 |
| 22nd | OK | 129,170 | 127,608 | 1,562 |
| 23rd | WV | 49,839 | 49,199 | 640 |
| 24th | ND | 21,598 | 21,019 | 579 |
| 25th | WA | 195,251 | 194,948 | 303 |
| 26th | MN | 145,820 | 145,697 | 123 |
| 27th | MT | 31,719 | 31,935 | -216 |
| 28th | RI | 30,478 | 30,787 | -309 |
| 29th | SC | 122,332 | 122,789 | -457 |
| 30th | LA | 121,952 | 122,683 | -731 |
| 31st | KS | 87,802 | 89,069 | -1,267 |
| 32nd | AR | 86,243 | 87,920 | -1,677 |
| 33rd | NE | 53,637 | 55,391 | -1,754 |
| 34th | WY | 17,274 | 19,063 | -1,789 |
| 35th | AK | 21,966 | 23,815 | -1,849 |
| 36th | KY | 127,820 | 129,954 | -2,134 |
| 37th | UT | 72,186 | 74,754 | -2,568 |
| 38th | MA | 146,757 | 149,633 | -2,876 |
| 39th | VT | 18,761 | 22,234 | -3,473 |
| 40th | NM | 53,008 | 57,005 | -3,997 |
| 41st | NJ | 156,502 | 161,729 | -5,227 |
| 42nd | ID | 49,464 | 54,948 | -5,484 |
| 43rd | CT | 70,229 | 76,096 | -5,867 |
| 44th | IL | 257,496 | 263,464 | -5,968 |
| 45th | IN | 178,093 | 184,343 | -6,250 |
| 46th | WI | 135,105 | 142,285 | -7,180 |
| 47th | VA | 194,796 | 204,103 | -9,307 |
| 48th | MO | 161,852 | 172,283 | -10,431 |
| 49th | NY | 360,749 | 378,951 | -18,202 |
| 50th | CA | 700,456 | 721,536 | -21,080 |
Change in Employment Gap Between People with and without Disabilities
| State | Gap between People with and without Disabilities in 2017 | Gap between People with and without Disabilities in 2018 | Gap Change |
| U.S. | 40.2 | 40.2 | 0 |
| AL | 45.9 | 44.1 | 1.8 |
| AK | 30.8 | 33.8 | -3 |
| AZ | 38.8 | 37 | 1.8 |
| AR | 45 | 44.8 | 0.2 |
| CA | 38.6 | 38.7 | -0.1 |
| CO | 35.1 | 34 | 1.1 |
| CT | 37.9 | 40.5 | -2.6 |
| DE | 36.5 | 40.6 | -4.1 |
| FL | 41.6 | 41.2 | 0.4 |
| GA | 41.6 | 40.6 | 1 |
| HI | 35.8 | 37.2 | -1.4 |
| ID | 33.7 | 36 | -2.3 |
| IL | 39.5 | 40.6 | -1.1 |
| IN | 40.1 | 42.1 | -2 |
| IA | 37 | 36.4 | 0.6 |
| KS | 34.5 | 36.9 | -2.4 |
| KY | 46.1 | 45.9 | 0.2 |
| LA | 38.5 | 41.1 | -2.6 |
| ME | 46.5 | 45.6 | 0.9 |
| MD | 38.1 | 37 | 1.1 |
| MA | 42.5 | 41.9 | 0.6 |
| MI | 43.2 | 42.2 | 1 |
| MN | 36.5 | 35.1 | 1.4 |
| MS | 44.2 | 43.6 | 0.6 |
| MO | 42.6 | 43.3 | -0.7 |
| MT | 34.2 | 32.7 | 1.5 |
| NE | 35.7 | 33.4 | 2.3 |
| NV | 36.8 | 34.9 | 1.9 |
| NH | 40.6 | 38.8 | 1.8 |
| NJ | 40.6 | 41.8 | -1.2 |
| NM | 37.8 | 38.3 | -0.5 |
| NY | 41.7 | 42.8 | -1.1 |
| NC | 43.1 | 42 | 1.1 |
| ND | 28 | 26.8 | 1.2 |
| OH | 42 | 41.2 | 0.8 |
| OK | 38.8 | 37.5 | 1.3 |
| OR | 40.2 | 37 | 3.2 |
| PA | 40.7 | 41.8 | -1.1 |
| RI | 38 | 41.3 | -3.3 |
| SC | 43.7 | 43.1 | 0.6 |
| SD | 31.2 | 29.2 | 2 |
| TN | 44.2 | 43.7 | 0.5 |
| TX | 36 | 36.1 | -0.1 |
| UT | 30.1 | 33.4 | -3.3 |
| VT | 32.9 | 39 | -6.1 |
| VA | 38.2 | 39 | -0.8 |
| WA | 37.7 | 38 | -0.3 |
| WV | 44.2 | 42.8 | 1.4 |
| WI | 40.7 | 40.9 | -0.2 |
| WY | 34.7 | 32.2 | 2.5 |
