Employment among the disabled
By Diane Galarneau and Marian Radulescu
Persons with a disability often work fewer hours than those with no disability. This gap widens as the number of years of disability increases. During a 6-year period, the gap can amount to as much as 1.6 years of 'lost' work time.
The effects of a disability last beyond the disability period for many affected persons. Their activity rate is lower not only during the reported years of disability, but also during years with no reported disability.
Disability is often associated with lower earnings, and this is more so when the disability period is longer. Men and women with a disability for 6 years had earnings gaps of up to 20% compared with persons with no disability.
The risk of low income is also higher for persons with a disability, especially during longer disability periods. Men affected for six years are eight times more likely to have low income than those without a disability, while women are four times more likely.
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