The job market is bad. It is even worse for disabled workers. The US government recently released a detailed study that showed in 2009 the average unemployment rate for disabled workers was 14.5%. According to the Department of Labor, there are an estimated 27 million Americans 16 years or older with a disability. As of July 2010, the unemployment rate for the disabled hit 16.4%. In addition, the unemployment rate for the disabled was higher at every level of education. For example, workers with disabilities that have a college degree are at a 8.3% unemployment rate whereas their non-disabled counterparts enjoy a rate of 4.5%. There is no question that these statistics demonstrate that disability discrimination is alive and well in the labor market. Prospective employers continue to view disabled workers as more costly and less productive and as a result are less inclined to hire these workers or to continue to employ them.
