Living conditions and quality of life

Disability and labour market integration: Policy trends and support in EU Member States

Report
Published
19 April 2021
pdf
Formats
Executive summary
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Author(s): 
Patrini, Valentina; Ahrendt, Daphne

Key findings

  • Despite recent progress, labour market participation remains a challenge for people with disabilities - a fact compounded by COVID-19. A variety of obstacles – ranging from disability-related stereotypes to a lack of a strategic vision in governance – make employment in the open labour market more difficult for people with disabilities.
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  • Despite recent progress, labour market participation remains a challenge for people with disabilities - a fact compounded by COVID-19. A variety of obstacles – ranging from disability-related stereotypes to a lack of a strategic vision in governance – make employment in the open labour market more difficult for people with disabilities.
    Share
  • Responses to protect people with disabilities against job loss during the pandemic have often been limited. To ensure that they are not left behind in the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, appropriate financial resources are needed to enable disability-inclusive solutions.
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  • Labour market support measures must take account of disability and tailor policy responses to support the inclusion of people with disabilities in employment. All actors – governments, employers and NGOs representing the voices of people with disabilities – play an important role in the provision of support.
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  • More high-quality data, broken down by disability type and comparable across the EU, are necessary to ensure the effective integration of people with disabilities into the labour market. Measures to support people with disabilities must also be systematically evaluated and the results fed back into policymaking.
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  • While supporting and promoting the labour market participation of people with disabilities is crucial, adequate and inclusive social protection mechanisms also need to be put in place to ensure support is available for all people with disabilities, irrespective of their employment status.
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Abstract

This report examines policy developments in EU Member States aimed at supporting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the open labour market, with a particular focus on the three stages of entering into employment, staying in the job and returning to work after an absence. It explores theRead more

This report examines policy developments in EU Member States aimed at supporting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the open labour market, with a particular focus on the three stages of entering into employment, staying in the job and returning to work after an absence. It explores the mechanisms and effectiveness of more than 150 different policy measures designed to address the dimensions in place in the EU before the COVID-19 pandemic: job creation, labour supply, labour demand and contextual factors. In addition, it provides an updated analysis of early policy measures created in the wake of the pandemic that aimed to support the labour market situation of people with disabilities. A country case study on Ireland complements the study by outlining the complexity of disability and support systems from a broader perspective. The report builds on the lessons learned and provides policy pointers to improve the integration of people with disabilities into the open labour market.

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Formats

  • Report

    Number of pages: 
    86
    Reference no.: 
    EF20013
    ISBN: 
    978-92-897-2168-4
    Catalogue no.: 
    TJ-02-21-332-EN-N
    DOI: 
    10.2806/143896
    Permalink: 
    eurofound.link/ef20013
    Catalogue info

    Disability and labour market integration: Policy trends and support in EU Member States

    Author(s): 
    Patrini, Valentina; Ahrendt, Daphne
    Topics: 
    COVID-19; Disability and chronic disease; European Pillar of Social Rights; Labour and social regulation; Labour market participation; Labour market policies; Living conditions and quality of life; Public services; Social policies; Working conditions

    Formats

    Cite this publication: 

    Eurofound (2021), Disability and labour market integration: Policy trends and support in EU Member States, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

  • Executive summary

    Reference no.: 
    EF20013EN1
    Catalogue info

    Disability and labour market integration: Policy trends and support in EU Member States

    Author(s): 
    Eurofound

    Available for download in 1 language

    Download

  • Working papers

    Related working papers

    • Integration of people with disabilities into the open labour market: Irish case study
      Case study
      19 April 2021
      Author(s)
      O'Donnell, Joan; Schmidt, Barbara
      Number of pages
      31
      Reference no.
      WPEF21044
      PDF

  • Tables and graphs

    The report contains the following list of tables and figures.

    List of tables

    • Table 1: Employment, poverty and social exclusion issues for people with disabilities, as reported in the 2020 European Semester country reports
    • Table 2: Perceived role of different actors in EU Member States regarding the integration of people with disabilities into the open labour market
    • Table 3: Distribution of policies by country and cluster, EU27 and the UK
    • Table 4: Overview of quota systems in EU Member States

    List of figures

    • Figure 1: EU policies and initiatives
    • Figure 2: Policy measures by key type
    • Figure 3: Measures by key beneficiaries
    • Figure 4: Measures assessed/evaluated by presence or absence of support from EU funds
    • Figure 5: Number of policy measures identified supporting job creation by country
    • Figure 6: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of incentives for employers
    • Figure 7: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of quota systems
    • Figure 8: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of entrepreneurship support
    • Figure 9: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of social enterprises
    • Figure 10: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of public procurement and public works
    • Figure 11: Number of policy measures identified supporting employees and jobseekers by country
    • Figure 12: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of all-encompassing and individual support
    • Figure 13: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of guidance and counselling
    • Figure 14: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of skills enhancement and assessment and transition from education
    • Figure 15: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation
    • Figure 16: Number of policy measures identified supporting the employing organisation by country
    • Figure 17: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of workplace adaptations and assistance
    • Figure 18: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of retention support and awareness-raising
    • Figure 19: Number of policy measures supporting the institutional environment by country
    • Figure 20: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of legal instruments
    • Figure 21: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of intermediation between demand and supply: matching services and placements
    • Figure 22: Mechanisms, outcomes and effectiveness of capacity building

Research carried out prior to the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union on 31 January 2020, and published subsequently, may include data relating to the 28 EU Member States. Following this date, research only takes into account the 27 EU Member States (EU28 minus the UK), unless specified otherwise.

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