Europe: Individuals with disabilities are continuously looking for jobs in the labour market, however, more still needs to be done to improve the inclusivity in workplaces, according to a survey by Acerta has found.
In the previous years, about 10 percent more employees with so-called “work-limiting disabilities” have found a regular job (referring to workplaces that are not targeted to employ people who struggle to find a job in the regular market), as per to an analysis by HR services company Acerta based on the data of more than 30,000 companies.
Moreover, the companies in the services sector, the social sector as well as the hotel and catering industry employ the highest number of individuals with disabilities, with the latter having recorded the most significant increase over the past five years.
The interim, as well as service vouchers sectors and companies in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals and energy sectors, have the lowest percentage of employees with a disability.
Along with this, overall, smaller companies generally employ more people with disabilities than larger companies, primarily because they are often more personal and can provide more personal support for individuals with disabilities.
Although the increase in the number of employees with disabilities in regular jobs is a positive sign, more work needs to be done to create inclusive workplaces, as per to Georgia Venetakis, an HR expert who has a visual impairment.
She argued, “Integrating individuals with disabilities in the workplace is sometimes still taboo. There should be more openness about it.”
In addition, she stressed that a change in mentality is required, as well as that companies should be not only open to employing different employees but also be prepared to look for a way to optimise this employment.
