Report Finds 637,000 Workers Added if Disability Gap Closes
Disability Employment Investments released a report showing 890,000 unemployed Australians with disabilities could work if businesses made minor adjustments to their workplaces.
The organization Disability Employment Investments released its first annual state of the nation report on disability employment Tuesday at the Sydney Opera House. The findings reveal that most Australian businesses employ no staff with disabilities, despite 890,000 unemployed people with disabilities being capable of working if employers made minor adjustments.
The report indicates that matching the employment rate of people with disabilities to that of those without would add 637,000 workers to the Australian workforce. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek urged businesses to move beyond good intentions by setting voluntary hiring targets and establishing measurable timelines for accountability.
Chief Executive John Burn highlighted the missed economic benefits of inclusive hiring, specifically noting the potential positive impact on the housing construction sector. Senior Access Manager Alex Jones advocated for a cultural shift to remove organizational barriers and the excuses that prevent hiring. Former disability discrimination commissioner Alastair Mcewin added that hiring targets are a necessary step toward shifting business culture.
