The proportion of disabled individuals who had been employed rose to 21.3% in 2022, in line with knowledge launched Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s greater than a two share level improve from 2021 and probably the most since 2008, when comparable knowledge had been first printed.

The unemployment price for disabled folks dropped final yr together with the nationwide common. And whereas the labor drive participation price did tick up for these with out disabilities, it went up by 3 times as a lot for folks with disabilities.

Day by day duties corresponding to commuting and navigating an workplace house could be troublesome for folks relying on their disabilities. As firms adopted distant and hybrid work preparations, extra disabled folks utilized for and landed jobs — typically for the primary time in years.

The current push by firms urging employees to return to the workplace could threaten the good points made by disabled folks, who comprise about 12% of the inhabitants, in line with the BLS. A report by the consulting agency McKinsey & Co. printed final June estimated that 35% of firms provided a completely distant choice. 

General, disabled persons are nonetheless much less prone to be employed than their counterparts who don’t have disabilities, and they’re twice as prone to be employed part-time, the BLS report stated. They’re additionally extra prone to be self-employed.