More people with disabilities join the workforce, thanks to remote work

The pandemic-induced remote working arrangement helped more disabled people in the United States (U.S.) find jobs. 

The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that disabled workers’ employment rose to an all-time high of 21.3% in 2022.

At the same time, the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities increased by three times, while unemployment dropped significantly.

Daily tasks such as commuting and navigating an office space can be complex for people depending on their disabilities. As companies adopted remote and hybrid work arrangements, more disabled people applied for and landed jobs — sometimes for the first time in years.

However, the BLS also expressed concerns about the recent push by companies urging workers to return to the office. 

The agency said back-to-office mandates might threaten the gains of disabled people, who comprise about 12% of the population. 

Overall, BLS states that disabled people are still less likely to be employed than their counterparts who don’t have disabilities, and they are twice as likely to be employed part-time or be self-employed.

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