Are people with disabilities disadvantaged in employment in Australia?
Comprehensive employment statistics for people with disabilities are not available. However, an Australian Bureau of Statistics study in 1998 found that: • people of working age (15-64 years) with a disability had a much lower rate of labour force participation (50%) than those without a disability (80%). • the median gross weekly income of people with a disability ($190) was less than half that of people without a disability ($390). • more than half (58%) of people with a disability were reliant on a government pension or benefit as their main source of income.
Comprehensive employment statistics for people with disabilities are not available. However, an Australian Bureau of Statistics study in 1998 found that: • people of working age (15-64 years) with a disability had a much lower rate of labour force participation (50%) than those without a disability (80%). • the median gross weekly income of people with a disability ($190) was less than half that of people without a disability ($390). • more than half (58%) of people with a disability were reliant on a government pension or benefit as their main source of income.
