Disability and work

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

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

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

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

If walking and talking robots are coming to replace employees at counters, desks and tills, Canadians don’t appear to be too concerned about it. The Toronto Star's Kieran Leavitt reports on a survey by the Environics Institute, with comments from IWH's Dr. Arif Jetha.

Published: Toronto Star, December 2020

Published: BMC Public Health, December 2020

A great deal of attention is being paid to the future of work and its impact on Canadians. Often missing from the discussion is the extent to which different workers will be included or excluded from the changing labour market. As the pace of change quickens in the years ahead, the sustainable employment of vulnerable groups could be in greater jeopardy and inequity could widen, writes Dr. Arif Jetha.

Published: The Conversation, March 2020

Every year, tens of thousands of Canadians become disabled and are unable to work, thereby becoming excluded from the many health advantages of workforce participation. In response to the growing concerns about managing disability in the workplace, the CSA Group, in conjunction with the Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy (CRWDP) and Conestoga College, has developed a new standard called the Work Disability Management Systems Standard (CSA Z1011). In this presentation, CRWDP director and IWH Senior Scientist Dr. Emile Tompa highlights components of the standard, which sets out best practices on injury/illness rehabilitation, return-to-work plans, and accommodation of workers with disabilities.

Published: February 2020

Published: OOHNA Journal, January 2020

Young adults today have difficulty entering the labour market, especially those with chronic disabling conditions. A systematic review of the relevant research found tailored supported employment interventions can help young individuals with chronic disabilities succeed on the job, Amanda Silliker reports.

Published: Canadian Occupational Safety, February 2019