Personal care and service occupations have the highest percentage of workers reporting having a disability, at 19.4%, according to the results of a new study of various occupations conducted by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

According to the researchers, a higher percentage of persons with disabilities in some occupations might reflect better workplace programs, employees self-selecting into those jobs based on perceived skill levels or less competition for those generally lower-wage jobs.

Overall, the report found that people with disabilities face many challenges when looking for employment and are less likely to be hired than equally qualified persons without disabilities.

“Persons with disability face employment disparities, a multidimensional issue involving barriers to finding and keeping jobs, including non-inclusive recruitment and hiring practices, lack of workplace communication and support, discrimination, and reduced workplace opportunities,” according to researchers Taylor M. Shockey, PhD, from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues.

Using data from 2016 to 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 35 states and Guam, the researchers found that 14.8% of currently employed adults aged 18 to 64 years reported having a disability. In contrast to the findings related to personal care and service occupations, only 11.1% of healthcare practitioners and technicians reported having disabilities, representing a low end of the spectrum.

Young people who reported having a disability were more likely to be employed than were older workers.

“This finding primarily reflects higher prevalence of cognitive disability among these younger workers” such as autism spectrum differences, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disabilities, the authors said.

“With early diagnosis and interventions, young persons with disability are likely better positioned for productive employment and successful integration into the workforce,” they said. “Alternatively, the declining prevalence of cognitive disability in older age groups might reflect longer continued employment among workers without congenital or acquired cognitive disabilities.”

The authors suggested that employers implement workplace programs that address the training, education and workplace needs of employees with disabilities.

“Although the Americans with Disabilities Act protects the rights of most persons with disability who are employed or seeking jobs, additional resources could do more to shift attitudes and improve workplace equity,” the authors wrote. “Both employees with disabilities and employers can benefit from a more equitable and inclusive workforce.”