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
Research Highlights
Examining four types of job disruptions due to a health condition, and the differences expected when workplace support needs are met
Job disruptions are common among workers living with chronic physical and/or mental health conditions, an IWH study has found. The study investigated the effects of workplace supports had on four types of job disruptions.
Published: March 11, 2025
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
At Work article
Supported job placements help young adults with disabilities find work: review
Job placements, offered in tandem with a suite of tailored employment supports, can help young people with disabilities make the transition into the labour force, according to an IWH systematic review.
Published: February 2019
Journal article
Journal article
Work-focused interventions that promote the labour market transition of young adults with chronic disabling health conditions: a systematic review
Published: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, January 2019
Project
Project
Future-proofing young Canadians with disabilities for the changing labour market
This study systematically examines the future of work as it relates to young people with disabilities, with the aim of anticipating the work and labour market changes that will affect their inclusion and success in the future of work.
Status: Ongoing
IWH Speaker Series
IWH Speaker Series
Promoting labour market transitions for young adults with chronic disabling conditions: a systematic review
Young adulthood is an important phase of life when most people establish their careers. And yet, it's a time when many young adults with disabling health conditions find themselves excluded from the labour market. A systematic review led by Dr. Arif Jetha examined work-focused interventions to support the transition of these young adults into the labour market. In this presentation, he shares findings and highlights the effectiveness of these interventions across different career stages and disability types.
Published: November 2018
At Work article
Benefits outweigh costs for workplaces that accommodate people with mental illness
For employers, the economic benefits of hiring and accommodating workers with mental illnesses range from two to seven dollars for every dollar spent. That's according to a new study on the business case of accommodating mental illnesses.
Published: July 2018
Journal article
Journal article
Rehabilitation service models for people with physical and/or mental disability living in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review
Published: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, April 2018
Project
Project
Project
Supporting the employment participation of Canadian young adults with chronic conditions: a systematic review
Status: Completed 2019
Project
Project
Best practices for work disability prevention management systems: a scoping review in support of new Canadian standard
Status: Completed 2019
Impact case study
WHO guidelines on rehabilitation in health systems informed by IWH systematic reviews
When the World Health Organization released its evidence-based guideline to help primarily low- and middle-income countries develop, extend equitably deliver rehabilitation services, it relied on evidence synthesized by an IWH research team for five of the guideline's nine recommendations.
Published: December 2017