The Labor Market Experience of Persons With Disabilities

Abstract

In the context of legislation to promote employment of persons with disabilities (Americans With Disabilities Act), trend data analysis results are showing employment rates that are moving in a downward rather than an upward direction. This review of two recent books on the labor market involvement and experience of persons with disability demonstrates this puzzle and points out some of the problems that may be contributing to those findings. The definition and measurement of disability in the data sets in use seem to be a key factor in the confusion, and both books contribute interesting material to address this aspect. Although The Labor Market Experience of Workers With Disability is well written with impressive analyses, it is in the traditional economics perspective, and while it introduces useful state policy information, it does not provide an answer to the puzzle. The Decline in Employment of People With a Disability uses an edited format to good effect, providing the reader with many creative approaches to the issues even if the puzzle pieces are not ultimately forced to fit.