People with disability in Australia

Introduction

More than 1 million people aged 15–64 with disability are working or looking for work (are in the labour force). This has remained stable over 15 years – 53% of people aged 15–64 with disability participated in the labour force in 2018 (or 1.1 million) and 2003 (or 1.2 million) (ABS 2019b, ABS 2004). Among those with severe or profound disability 27% were in the labour force in 2018 and 30% in 2003 (ABS 2019b, ABS 2004).

Labour force participation rate

People with disability have a lower labour force participation rate than people without disability. Just over half (53% or 1.1 million) of people aged 15–64 with disability are in the labour force, compared with 84% (or 11.8 million) without disability. This is particularly so for those with severe or profound disability (27% or 137,000 compared with 62% or 960,000 with other disability status) (ABS 2019b). 

Generally, males are more likely to be in the labour force than females (Figure LABOUR.1). This is true for people with and without disability:

• 56% (or 563,000) of males aged 15–64 with disability are in the labour force, compared with 51% (or 535,000) of females
• 89% (or 6.2 million) of males aged 15–64 without disability, compared with 80% (or 5.6 million). 

Similarly, for those with severe or profound disability, 31% (or 76,000) of males with disability are in the labour force compared with 24% (or 61,000) of females (ABS 2019b).

People aged 15–64 with sensory and speech disability (55% or 225,000) and physical disability (49% or 632,000) are more likely to be in the labour force than those with head injury, stroke or acquired brain injury (32% or 51,000) and psychosocial disability (33% or 215,000) (ABS 2019b).

Figure LABOUR.1: Labour force participation rate for people aged 15–64, by disability status and severity, sex and age group, 2018

Notes:

1. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households.
2. The labour force includes people who are employed or unemployed.
3. Figures are rounded and underwent ABS confidentiality and perturbation processes.

Source data tables: Data tables – Labour force participation. View data tables

Reasons for not being in the labour force

Close to half (47% or 959,000) of all people aged 15–64 with disability are not in the labour force. Of these:

• most (59% or 562,000) are permanently unable to work
• almost a quarter (23% or 224,000) intend to work or look for work
• 1 in 12 (8.7% or 83,000) are unsure if they intend to work or look for work
• 1 in 15 (6.9% or 67,000) do not intend to work or look for work (Figure LABOUR.2).

This varies by age and sex (Figure LABOUR.2):

• Proportion of people permanently unable to work increases with age, from 22% (or 32,000) of people with disability not in the labour force aged 15–24, to 52% (or 112,000) of those aged 25–44, and 69% (or 418,000) of those aged 45–64.
• Proportion of people with disability not in the labour force who intend to work or look for work falls with age, from 62% (or 88,000) of people aged 15–24, to 34% (or 74,000) of those aged 25–44, and 10% (or 62,000) of those aged 45–64. The same pattern is observed for people without disability.
• Males with disability not in the labour force are more likely than females to be permanently unable to work – 64% (or 282,000) compared with 54% (or 279,000). 
• Females with disability not in the labour force are more likely to not intend to work or look for work than males – 9.0% (or 47,000) compared with 4.6% (or 20,000) (Figure LABOUR.2, ABS 2019b).

Figure LABOUR.2: Ability and intention to work and look for work, for people who are not in the labour force, by disability status, age group and sex, 2018

Notes:
* Relative standard error of 25–50% and should be used with caution.

1. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households who are not in the labour force.
2. People who intend to, are unsure whether intend to, or do not intend to work are limited to those who are not in the labour force, not permanently unable to work, and have not looked for work in the last 4 weeks.
3. The category ‘Do not intend to work or look for work’ for people aged 15–24 with disability has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use. The category ‘Permanently unable to work’ has not been recorded for any people aged 15–24 without disability. Therefore, these categories are not shown in this figure for those populations.
4. Figures are rounded and underwent ABS confidentiality and perturbation processes.

Source data tables: Data tables – Labour force participation. View data tables

People aged 15–64 with disability who are not in the labour force are far more likely than those without disability to be permanently unable to work (59% or 562,000 compared with 2.1% or 48,000). They are also much less likely to intend to work or look for work (23% or 224,000 compared with 60% or 1.3 million) (Figure LABOUR.2, ABS 2019b).

About two-thirds (67% or 64,000) of people aged 15–64 with disability who are not in the labour force and live in Outer regional and remote areas are permanently unable to work compared with those living in Major cities (54% or 329,000) (ABS 2019b).

People who are permanently unable to work

Of people aged 15–64 with disability who are permanently unable to work:

• 9 in 10 (91% or 511,000) said it was because of their own condition or disability
• 1 in 7 (12% or 70,000) said it was because of someone else's ill health or disability (people could give more than one reason) (ABS 2019b).

When asked about requirements to enable workforce participation, 96% said they could not work at all. Some reported they may be able to participate if certain requirements were met, such as training, equipment and assistance with work or personal care tasks (2.8% or 16,000) (ABS 2019b).

People able to work

People able to work refers to people aged 15–64 not permanently unable to work.

People who do not intend to work or look for work

For people aged 15–64 with disability able to work but not intending to work or look for work, the most common reasons for this were (more than one reason could be given):

• half (49% or 33,000) have no need to work, are satisfied with current arrangements or are retired (for now)
• 32% (or 21,000) are permanently retired or will not work again
• 18% (or 12,000) cited their short-term illness or injury or long-term health condition or disability (Figure LABOUR.3).

Males with disability able but not intending to work (42% or 9,000) are much more likely than their female counterparts (26% or 12,000) to report they are permanently retired or will not work again. Females with disability able but not intending to work (56% or 26,000) are more likely than their male counterparts (27% or 6,000) to report that they have no need to work, are satisfied with current arrangements or are retired (for now) (ABS 2019b).

Figure LABOUR.3: Reasons for not looking for work in the last 4 weeks for people who are not in the labour force, not permanently unable to work and do not intend to work, by disability status and sex, 2018

Notes:
* Relative standard error of 25–50% and should be used with caution.

1. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households who are not in the labour force, not permanently unable to work, have not actively looked for work in last 4 weeks and do not intend to work or look for work.
2. Reasons not shown in the figure are studying/returning to studies, home duties or caring for child(ren), welfare payments/pension/allowance may be affected, moving house, taking holidays, caring for ill/disabled/elderly person(s), pregnancy, and other reason.
3. More than one reason for not intending to work or look for work may be reported.
4. Figures are rounded and underwent ABS confidentiality and perturbation processes.

Source data tables: Data tables – Labour force participation. View data tables

People who may work in the future

People who may work in the future are those who: 

• have not looked for work but intend to work or look for work
• are not sure if they will work.

For those with disability aged 15–64 the most common reasons for not looking for work in the last 4 weeks were (more than one reason could be reported):

• own ill health or disability (49% or 145,000)
• studying or returning to study (28% or 85,000)
• children too young or prefer to look after them and child care availability (13% or 39,000)
• someone else’s ill health or disability (11% or 33,000) (Figure LABOUR.4).

Differences in reasons between males and females with disability who may work in the future are similar to those for people who do not intend to work or look for work. For example, of people aged 15–64 with disability who may work in the future (Figure LABOUR.4):

• males are more likely than females to give their own ill health or disability as a reason for not looking for work – 54% (or 67,000) compared with 46% (or 81,000)
• 32% (or 40,000) of males report studying or returning to studies as a reason as do 27% (or 47,000) of females
• females are likely to cite family or relationship considerations as reasons for not looking for work

• children being too young or preferring to look after them and child care availability – 21% (or 37,000) of females 
• someone else’s ill health or disability – 12% (or 21,000)
• other family considerations – 9.7% (or 17,000) (ABS 2019b).

Figure LABOUR.4: Reasons for not looking for work in the last 4 weeks for people who are not in the labour force, not permanently unable to work and may work in the future, by disability status and sex, 2018

Notes:

1. Restricted to people aged 15–64 living in households who are not in the labour force, not permanently unable to work, and have not looked for work in the last 4 weeks but intend to work or look for work in the future, or are unsure.
2. Reasons not shown in the figure are retired/too old/do not need or want to work, other family considerations, pension or welfare payments might be affected, pregnancy, lacks relevant schooling, training or experience, other and don’t know.
3. More than one reason for not intending to work or look for work may be reported.
4. No males with disability were recorded as not looking for work due to caring for child(ren).
5. Figures are rounded and underwent ABS confidentiality and perturbation processes.

Source data tables: Data tables – Labour force participation. View data tables