Employment Programs

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) is hosting an upcoming ePolicyWorks National Online Dialogue designed to gather public input on how artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled hiring tools can be made more inclusive for people with disabilities, including those who may also be members of other protected classes. By engaging citizens and stakeholders in online knowledge sharing, the initiative aims to advance the employment of people with disabilities. This innovative approach reflects a change in how stakeholders connect and collaborate with the Federal Government and each other...

The LEAD Center recently released the latest issue of the LEAD On! Newsletter titled “Good Jobs and Competitive Integrated Employment: Strategies for Success.” Various federal departments, including the Departments of Labor, Transportation, Energy and Commerce, rallied around the Investing in America (IIA) agenda, which has created access to good jobs for all America’s workers, including those with disabilities. This newsletter features several resources from the ODEP-funded LEAD Center to promote Good Jobs as Competitive Integrated Employment, including a recently released fact sheet.

In a proclamation for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2023, President Biden acknowledged the significant contributions of disabled Americans to the nation's economy and emphasized the country's commitment to equal dignity, respect, and opportunities for all citizens. The proclamation highlights legislative milestones, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and addresses ongoing challenges, including lower employment rates and wage disparities for individuals with disabilities. President Biden outlines efforts to promote job opportunities, accessibility, and inclusivity, emphasizing the importance of diversity and equity in the workforce while urging all Americans to support equal employment opportunities...

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released a commemorative resource guide about the recruitment, hiring, and employment of individuals with disabilities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The EEOC and DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) issued this guide to explain the key roles these agencies have in Rehabilitation Act enforcement, outreach, and education. This resource guide also includes recruitment and hiring “Best Practices”, retention and advancement “Best Practices”, as well as other key resources for guidance and technical assistance.

The National Conference of State Legislatures, a partner of the State Exchange on Employment & Disability, recently published a policy brief titled, “Trends in Disability Employment Legislation.” This resource explores key trends from the 2022 and 2023 state legislative sessions aimed at improving employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. These trends encompass incentivizing inclusive hiring practices, promoting competitive integrated employment, eliminating subminimum wages for workers with disabilities, addressing the impact of long COVID on the workforce, and enhancing mental health support in the workplace.

A recent study featured in the "Journal of Education and Work" aims to address the lack of longitudinal studies on the employment outcomes of long-term disabled individuals. While previous research has primarily focused on transitional factors and individual-level characteristics, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of disabled individuals' labor market experiences over time and across their life course. Leveraging social sequence analysis and extensive Norwegian longitudinal registry data spanning 24 years, the research is dedicated to identifying, describing, and forecasting stable employment paths among young individuals with disabilities, with particular attention to exploring the impact of gender...

Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) has released a new resource titled "What Can State Agencies Do? A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide for State Agencies." This guide offers practical steps that state agencies can follow to promote awareness of disability-inclusive workplace policies and practices, both internally and externally. This initiative is a collaborative effort among various organizations aiming to showcase supportive workplaces that are inclusive for all workers.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has published an article highlighting the representation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander workers with disabilities in skilled trade professions. The analysis, conducted as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Good Jobs Initiative, reveals that approximately 56,000 individuals from these communities, comprising 18%, are employed in skilled trade professions. The article explores various aspects, including common trade professions, age distributions by gender, primary industry sectors employing these workers, and wage disparities between disabled and non-disabled individuals across occupational categories.

The United States Senate has released a report titled "Uninspected & Neglected: Nursing Home Inspection Agencies are Severely Understaffed, Putting Residents at Risk." The report highlights the investigation conducted by the Majority staff, prompted by Chairman Casey's previous concerns regarding the Special Focus Facilities (SFF) program. Findings reveal that State agencies responsible for monitoring nursing homes’ are grappling with significant staffing shortages and insufficient funding, resulting in delayed inspections and potential harm to residents. The report addresses the historical awareness of these issues, the use of third-party contractors, the impact on quality ratings, the utilization of CARES Act funding during COVID-19.

The AARP has published an article analyzing the relationship between small business trends and the U.S. older workforce. It emphasizes the continued importance of small businesses as a significant source of employment for individuals aged 50 and older, despite the growing dominance of larger corporations. The article provides data on the employment landscape, highlighting the higher representation of older workers in smaller firms compared to larger ones. It also discusses how economic conditions and trends, including the impact of the pandemic, can influence employment opportunities for older workers in small businesses.