Savvy employers everywhere are elevating their workforce and simultaneously driving positive economic growth by hiring from the one in four adults in the U.S. who have some type of disability. The benefits of enhancing your team with an array of abilities are well known, but there are still some misconceptions about hiring from that 25% pool.
The Department of Economic Security’s Vocational Rehabilitation is a work program that prepares individuals with disabilities to enter the workforce by providing services and support that align with career goals. In 2024, DES helped 1,307 individuals to confidently enter and stay in the workforce.
Many individuals with disabilities, such as those involved in VR, are highly motivated and ready for the next step. My challenge for every employer is this: Hire individuals with disabilities, or learn more about how you can work with VR to enhance disability awareness at your worksites and fill your workforce needs with qualified talent.
Studies show that workplaces that include individuals with disabilities have proven benefits, as 53% of employers who provided workplace accommodations saw increased productivity and 85% reported retention of a valuable employee.
Other employers see increases in profitability. According to a study by the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, 87% of public consumers agree they would prefer to give their business to companies that hire individuals with disabilities. Employers like Amazon and Walgreens have welcomed DES clients through award-winning onboarding, training and accommodation programs. In order to complement employees, employers integrate assistive technologies and have hired American Sign Language interpreters in some cases.
But you don’t have to be a Fortune 500 company to introduce unique perspectives and experiences in the workplace. In the cases where employers make accommodations for workers with disabilities, the cost is usually minimal. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, 58% of accommodations cost absolutely nothing to make. Tax credits are also available for employers who hire VR clients. In fact, the DES Work Opportunity Tax Credit program issued 28,636 tax credits worth over $70 million back to Arizona businesses in 2024.
Yet, bias still exists, causing employment barriers for qualified candidates. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024, about 789,000 individuals aged 16 or older who have a disability were not employed but wanted a job and were available for work. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor published that the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 10% in July, compared to 4.3% for those without disabilities.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Employers can partner with state employment programs and utilize resources like VR to prepare workers and welcome new talent pools. On the web-based job matching and labor market portal, Arizona Job Connection, employers may create a free account,
promote their company profile, post job openings, and search for qualified candidates. A recent system enhancement allows users to filter candidates and employers, which users report has been “very helpful” to match!
Are you ready to discover how Vocational Rehabilitation can help enhance disability awareness and fill your workforce needs with qualified talent? Connect with a Rehabilitation Services Employer Liaison by visiting the DES Rehabilitation Services Administration web page.
Kristen Mackey is Department of Economic Security Administrator, Rehabilitation Services Administration.
