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Abstract

This report provides a systematic review of recent research (primarily since 2002) related to employment of people with disabilities. It also identifies limitations and gaps in this research. The report reviews research in a variety of areas including supply-side factors influencing employment, employer attitudes and practices, labor market organization, work accommodations, progression of disability benefits and disability management, impact of public policy on employment, and vocational services interventions.

Introduction

Improving employment and other vocational outcomes for people with disabilities is a clear goal of policymakers, advocates, people with disabilities, and our larger society. To achieve this end, we need to better understand what actions the public and private sector can and should undertake. To do this we need to know what works—that is, what programs, policies, and actions are effective in reaching the goal of improved employment and related outcomes for people with disabilities.

The research on employment of people with disabilities spans multiple areas of inquiry and academic disciplines. For example, there is clinical research that attempts to understand the role of different medical treatments in improving work outcomes; policy research that studies the connection of legislation and public disability programs to employment; and rehabilitation research evaluating promising vocational interventions. Multiple methods are used with many different sources of data and with varying research quality.

This report reviews research (primarily since 2002) related to employment of people with disabilities. While a comprehensive review of the entire literature was beyond the scope of this effort, this report provides a systematic review of a set of literature across key research areas. The review provides an initial understanding of the research being conducted in these areas and identification of limitations and gaps in the research. The report also discusses on-going research focusing on employment of people with disabilities in a few key agencies and centers.

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Disclaimer: The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.