Australian Employers Network on Disability

A new US research project into people with disability as employees has illustrated what many Employers' Network members are already aware of - that, on average, people with disability have fewer absences, are more reliable, and stay with an employer for longer than employees without disability.

The project studied three industry sectors - retail, hospitality and healthcare - and explored the costs and benefits associated with employing people with disability in the United States.

Research questions addressed the three main areas of employment concern, namely: 

• productivity;
• supervision; and
• absences.

The study found no differences in performance/productivity or supervision requirements, and found that employees with disability had fewer scheduled absences than employees without disability.

The study also found that the average cost of workplace modifications was just $US313.

In the United States there are 54 million people with disability, with 21 million of working age.  Only 40% of these 21 million people are employed, leaving 12.6 million people with disability unemployed.

Professor Margaret Vickers from the University of Western Sydney is seeking to replicate this research project in Australia, focusing on the Greater Western Sydney region.  She invites interested parties to contact her to become involved, by phone on (02) 9685 9226 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .