According to statistics released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in July 2011, the percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.2, down from 21.3 in June. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was 70.2, unchanged from June.

Unemployment Rate at 16.8%

The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 16.8%, compared with 9.0% for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted. These rates are down slightly from the June rates of 16.9% and 9.0%, respectively.

Table A-6 Provides Further Details on Employment Levels by Disability Status

Table A-6 shows further details on employment status of the civilian population by sex, age, and disability status, not seasonally adjusted.

Definition of a Person with a Disability

In compiling the data, the BLS defines a person with a disability as a person having at least one of the following conditions: is deaf or has serious difficulty hearing; is blind or has serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses; has serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition; has serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs; has difficulty dressing or bathing; or has difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.

Visit VisionPayroll.com Monthly for Updated Disability Employment Statistics

Each month, Vision Payroll will provide updates disability employment statistics as they become available.