Income and employment equity of graduates with and without disabilities

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] countries, Australians with disabilities are most at risk of experiencing poverty. Employment equity is essential for wellbeing, health and social inclusion. Reported differences in income level between people with and without disabilities vary widely between 0 to 47% depending on productivity assumptions. Contradictory to these assumptions, empirical research has demonstrated that people with disabilities often have equivalent skills, superior loyalty and lower absentee rates.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate if there is a significant difference in the annual remuneration, hours worked and age-related career trajectory of graduates with and without disabilities.

METHODS:

Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to identify employment equity between graduates with and without disabilities in the 2011 Australian Census.

RESULTS:

Graduates with disabilities received a mean weekly income that was 53% of the income of graduates without disabilities and 85% of the mean hourly income. Female graduates with disabilities received the lowest mean income of all subgroups at 35% of the mean weekly income of male graduates without disabilities

CONCLUSION:

This corroborates previous research that reports people with disabilities have difficulty obtaining employment, experience insecure employment and have fewer career and promotional opportunities. The income gaps were significantly greater than gaps previously reported.