Objectives: To compare the employment situation of adult Californians with and without disability and to assess, via regression analysis, the extent to which disability accounts for these differences, independent of demographic characteristics
Data Source: The 3805 respondents to the California Work and Health Survey (CWHS) in 1998-2000. In each year, the CWHS includes a random sample of Californians 18 and older, with oversamples of minorities and persons with disabilities.
Measures: Dependent variables: whether persons with (DIS) and without disabilities (WO DIS) were in the labor force (LF) or actually employed (EMP) in the week prior to interview, had been displaced from a job in the 3 years (DISP3), and, if employed, had worked full-time for the entire year (FTFY). Disability is defined by limitation in activities. In the regression analysis, other independent variables include: gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, and education.
Results: On an undajusted basis, DIS had lower LF participation rates than WO DIS (54 vs. 80%, diff=-26%,95%CI -21%, -31%), lower rates of EMP (43 vs. 69%,diff=-27,95%CI -21%, -32%), higher rates of DISP3 (25 vs. 16%,diff=9%,95%CI 3%, 14%), and lower rates of FTFY (27 vs. 48%,diff=-21%,95% CI -15%, -27%). Adjustment had minimal effect on these differences.
Conclusions: Despite the tight labor market in California and concomitant growth in non-physically demanding high-tech jobs, persons with disabilities are less likely to be in the labor force, employed, or to work full-time for the entire year, and are more likely be displaced from jobs than those without, effects that are not the result of their demographic characteristics.
Learning Objectives: 1. To understand the contemporary employment situation of persons with disabilities 2. To understand the disparities in work output between persons with and without disabilities who are employed. 3. To understand the rates of job displacement of persons with and without disabilities.
Keywords: Disability Studies, Labor
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.