With job advertisements increasing month on month, the opportunity for workforces to recruit employees with disabilities is becoming stronger.
2021 will prove to be a great year of opportunity, in fact, as the number of unemployed Australians has reduced from 1 million (at the peak of the pandemic in 2020), to 952,100.
“Australians living with disability have often been overlooked in recruitment, with a 48% employment rate compared to 80% of the general public,” says General Manager, DES (Disability Employment Service), atWork Australia, Steve Carder.
“This is a missed opportunity as these workers have proven to be hugely beneficial to businesses’ productivity, staff turnover and bottom line.”
Mr Carder says that businesses should not see hiring a person with a disability as, “…an issue to overcome”.
“It’s well documented that employees with disabilities generate less turnover, and a superior attendance over their peers”
A 2018 US study shows that businesses were four times as likely to outperform their competitors’ shareholder returns if they prioritised the inclusion of those living with disability.
The businesses in the study achieved an average of 28% higher revenue, 30% higher profit margins and double the net income.
Additionally, the average company that employs people with disability see staff retention go up by 90%, which allows them to focus on their business and not ‘revolving door’ recruitment.
