Ready to work – why Australian employers need people with disability

Not unlike the rental vacancy rate, Australia’s unemployment rate has fallen to just 3.5 per cent. Meanwhile, there are more than 100,000 Australians with disability actively looking for work.

That means employers need workers and people with disability make great employees.

However, new research released by social enterprise Jigsaw Australia – which surveyed 500 Australian managers and HR professionals – shows:

• 50 per cent of those managers have never hired or (knowingly) worked with a person with disability
• 91 per cent of those who have hired a person with disability have experienced challenges hiring them through Disability Employment Services (DES); and
• Employers are keen have a more inclusive and diverse workforce – but they are lost in getting started.

Jigsaw supports school leavers with disability with training, expertise and soft skills crucial to finding and keeping a fulfilling job.

Read more from Kathryn Mills, Jigsaw Adelaide’s Community Engagement Lead.