Disability and work
People with disabilities face substantially lower employment levels than the general working-age population. This page pulls together research and resources on policies and practices aimed at improving the labour market participation of people living with disabilities.
Featured
![A graphic of two women surrounded by superimposed graphical data and screens. One wears virtual reality goggles and the other holds a laptop computer.](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_6_col_wide/public/iwh/images/Delphi%20Report.jpg?h=72c85a53&itok=z7tdIUwF)
At Work article
Top-ranked strategies to support young persons with disabilities in the future of work
IWH researchers asked persons with disabilities, practitioners and subject matter experts about strategies for disability inclusion in the face of six future of work challenges. A new report details their top-ranked strategies to foster inclusion in the face of each challenge.
Published: June 7, 2024
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Research Highlights
How do employment support programs impact the health of young adults with episodic disabilities?
Episodic disabilities can make it challenging for workers to find and sustain employment while managing their symptoms and work demands. An IWH study investigated the health impacts of employment support programs for young adults with episodic disabilities.
Published: April 8, 2024
Journal article
Journal article
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on health, financial worries, and perceived organizational support among people living with disabilities in Canada
Published: Disability and Health Journal, June 2021
Project report
Project report
Fragmentation dans l'avenir du travail
D’ici deux décennies, le monde du travail au Canada et dans les autres pays industrialisés sera fort différent de ce qu’il est aujourd’hui. Une équipe de recherche basée à l’Institut de recherche sur le travail et la santé a entamé un projet qui vise à aider la préparation des jeunes personnes handicapées pour le monde du travail de l’avenir. Le rapport provenant de ce projet décrit neuf tendances susceptibles de modeler l’avenir du travail et leur incidence pour les travailleurs vulnérables.
Published: April 2021
![An illustration of young people helping each other climb out of a mountain crevice](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/future_mountain_climb.jpg?h=f6963184&itok=dZ1WGxCq)
At Work article
Nine trends that will likely shape future of work for groups of vulnerable workers
Climate change, artificial intelligence, robotics and automation. The world of work will look very different in the next two decades as a result of major system-wide changes. What might it hold for vulnerable workers?
Published: April 2021
Project report
Project report
Fragmentation in the future of work
In 2020, an Institute for Work & Health research team, using a method from the field of strategic foresight called horizon scanning, began exploring what the future may hold for workers, especially those in vulnerable conditions. Its findings are included in this report, which identifies nine future trends that may have a particular impact on vulnerable workers—both positive and negative.
Published: April 2021
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At Work article
Precarity more likely for older, new workers with disabilities
An IWH study finds the risks of working in precarious jobs are the same for people with and without disabilities. But among people with disabilities, precarity is more likely when people are older or have less job tenure.
Published: March 2021
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Fragmentation in the future of work: Exploring the impact of the changing nature of work on vulnerable workers
The future of work is characterized by diverse social, technological, economic, environmental and political changes, including artificial intelligence and the automation of jobs, an aging workforce, climate change. These are expected to disrupt every industry, transform working conditions and affect the types and availability of jobs. Despite a growing discourse on the changing nature of work, there is a limited understanding of how the future of work will impact vulnerable labour market groups. In this presentation, Dr. Arif Jetha outlines nine major trends that may shape the future of work and have a specific impact on vulnerable workers.
Published: February 2021
![A woman works at a laundry service](/sites/iwh/files/styles/bootstrap_4_col_widescreen/public/iwh/images/laundry_female_worker.jpg?h=ab04b661&itok=igpS9Pqv)
Research Highlights
Is precarious work more prevalent for people with disabilities? The role of age and job tenure
Workers with disabilities are no more likely than those without to work in precarious jobs. However, some subsets of people with disabilities are more likely to work in precarious jobs—older people or people with shorter job tenure. Contrary to expectation, younger people with disabilities are not more likely than older people with disabilities to have precarious jobs. Among people with and without disabilities, having better health is linked to a lower likelihood of working in precarious jobs.
Published: February 2021
Project
Project
Developing a framework for measuring culture change related to accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities
Research shows people with disabilities are often not permitted to, and/or are prevented from, participating in various activities in society, including employment. Culture change is needed to make substantive and sustainable change. This project aims to develop a set of clear and robust measures to track culture change as part of efforts to advance social inclusion and accessibility.
Status: Ongoing
Project
Project
Addressing knowledge gaps about skills of persons with disabilities
An IWH-led project is determining what we know about the foundational and transferable skill levels of persons with disabilities and how to fill the gaps.
Status: Ongoing
Project
Project
Building disability confidence in Canada’s financial sector
An IWH project is bringing together disability-focused organizations to develop a toolkit to build capacity among Canada's financial-sector employers to hire and accommodate persons with disabilities.
Status: Ongoing