Fewer With Disabilities Employed, Data Shows

The unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities is edging up as less people in this population actively seek work, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Figures released just before Labor Day show that the jobless rate for those with disabilities hit 11.3 percent in August, up slightly from 11.1 percent the month prior.

The shift appears to be due at least in part to more individuals with disabilities giving up on the job market altogether.

Meanwhile, the economy added 151,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate for the general population was unchanged at 4.9 percent.

Federal officials began tracking employment among people with disabilities in October 2008. There is not yet enough data compiled to establish seasonal trends among this population, so statistics for this group are not seasonally adjusted.

Data on people with disabilities covers those over the age of 16 who do not live in institutions. The first employment report specific to this population was made available in February 2009. Now, reports are released monthly.

Full Article & Source:
Fewer With Disabilities Employed, Data Shows