What predicts re-employment after job loss for individuals with mental retardation?

Abstract

This study analyzed longitudinal employment data collected from South Carolina disability service agencies to determine which individual and agency characteristics are predictors of re-employment for individuals with mental retardation. Reasons for job loss in this population were also explored. While 1198 individuals (72.5% who worked in 2001 remained employed in 2002, 455 workers (27.5% did not sustain employment the following year. The most frequent reasons reported for job loss in these individuals included job performance problems (28.1%, a decision to quit on the part of the employee (21.9%, health problems (10.9%), and employer lay-offs (10.9%. Only 38 percent of individuals who experienced an interruption in employment in 2002 successfully regained employment in 2003. Individual and service agency characteristics, including race, agency size, and use of a job coach, were found to be significant predictors of re-employment for these individuals.