Why hasn't the employment rate changed for people with a disability in 28 years?
Cayla Dengate
Senior Editor and RAP Champion at LinkedIn. I’m also studying Disaster and Emergency Management.
Dylan Alcott OAM knows a thing or two about lofty goals. After all, he was a Paralympic gold medalist and tennis World Champion in his teen years and in 2022, was awarded Australian of the Year.
His current target feels even more ambitious — to change the employment rate of people with a disability. Australia’s overall employment rate rose to all-time highs after the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, buoyed by a lack of migration and a move by companies to bring production onshore. Yet the employment rate of people with a disability hasn't changed in 28 years.
He tells LinkedIn that, like everyone else, he was hopeful the nation’s push to work from home during the pandemic would open up more professional opportunities for people with a disability.
“Some of the questions I used to hear from employers on this topic were that flexible work doesn’t work, and working from home doesn’t work. Clearly, it does. I am still buoyant about [changes to workplace flexibility] because it has proven it can work.
“We currently have a workforce shortage yet the participation rate for people with a disability hasn’t changed in 28 years. It’s why we created a new jobs site – so people with a disability can match with the right employers.”
He has launched The Field to provide equitable access for job seekers searching for meaningful employment. The platform, which was designed, delivered, and led by people with a disability, also simplifies the recruitment process for employers by providing practical support for those wanting to hire someone who has a disability, including an inclusive language tool and training workshops.
“Your worth isn’t tied to your job, but everyone deserves to make the choice to choose whether they want to get involved,” Alcott says.
Job seekers can enter the accessibility features they need and are matched with employers like REA Group , Randstad , WPP , Beaumont Tiles and more. Alcott says this will fundamentally change the interview process because “at the job interview, you can just talk about your skill sets, your passion, your interests and not your disability.”
Alcott wants to take the concept global because Australia isn’t the only country with a stagnant participation rate for people with a disability.
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“I want to see participation rate change. That comes down to everybody. We need allies. We need organisations to challenge unconscious bias, to give us opportunities to be ourselves as people with a disability. We need big, small, medium businesses to lead that. We need everybody to get involved.
"It's a big goal but if I hear about one person getting a job through it, then how cool’s that?”
What barriers to employment have you experienced? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Tourism Professional, Accessibility Advocate and Keynote Speaker
1yI'm so pleased to see this topic attracting attention and creating dialogue! As a legally blind professional, I (like many) have had first-hand experience in the challenges of navigating the employment system with a disability. I really believe creating greater awareness and educating employers about the ABILITIES of people with disabilities will be a major catalyst for creating positive change. I congratulate Dylan Alcott OAM on his The Field initiative and all the advocacy work he does to get this topic on the public agenda.
Client-side project manager
1yGood on him. Organisations, buildings and software often have inadequate consideration for people with even minor disabilities.
Career Coach # Career Development # Transition # Disability Support # Outplacement # Trainer #
1yAs Dylan says everyone deserves to have a job - and for a student to work harder than most to get their degree, sign up to a DES and be told they should take the cleaning job because a job is a job... As Dylan says changing the interview process is a great start! Neuro divergent people are one group who often struggle when it comes to the interview, but their skills are exceptional and even more they are who a company is looking for but cannot get past the interview
Career Coach # Career Development # Transition # Disability Support # Outplacement # Trainer #
1yCayla Dengate, such a great subject - I work at a University supporting students through their study as well as employment initiatives. this sounds like a great platform, there is so much work to do in this area. We have employers who have great inclusion programs for graduates with a disability, others who want to but simply do not know how or what to do, and others who say they have, but when you ask about it say something like 'well we do a morning tea for staff on Are you OK day'... so 'tick' So I think there has been progress but no not much. Students are nervous to disclose, it is the biggest question I get asked. Unfortunately the Government's program - Disability Employment Services (DES) - is simply not fit for purpose - there are some great people working in the program but that tick a box mentality strikes again. I could spend hours on this topic!
ICF ACC Career & Workplace Coach | Consultant
1yIt is a great initiative of Dylan Alcott OAM to provide focus on providing employment opportunities for those with disabilities. What was particularly interesting in the 2022 report was the low self employment rate for people with a disability. I’d like to see more support in this area as I am sure there a lot of great ideas that could be supported into growing small businesses.