Employment among the disabled

Abstract

When considering persons with a disability, the assumption often is that they are affected by their disability throughout their life. And yet, among those reporting a disability at some point between 1999 and 2004, only 13% were affected all six years. Thus, a sizeable proportion appear to have a temporary limitation. Disability may also be experienced in phases or episodes, with movement in and out of states of disability of varying severity over time. These phases or episodes likely have major effects on the ability of such persons to participate continuously in the labour market and their ability to meet their needs and those of their family. Persons with disabilities face different barriers to participation in the labour force, even though maintaining an attachment is often crucial for them. Doing so enables them to meet everyday needs and build selfesteem, and gives a sense of belonging to the community. These days, with an aging population and a possible labour shortage, society can ill afford to forgo any contributions. Furthermore, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act protect and ensure access to the labour market for persons with activity limitations by guaranteeing equality and by prohibiting discrimination based on physical or mental disability (Human Resources and Social Development Canada 2006). Most surveys that deal with disability provide little information on the dynamics of affected persons’ participation in the labour market. The Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) fills this gap with its longitudinal component and, since 1999, the question on disability addressing functional and societal limitations, in line with surveys that usually deal with this phenomenon (see Data source and definitions).

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