Disability and chronic disease
A disability or chronic disease is broadly defined as a continuing health condition that limits a person’s daily activities or their ability to interact with the world around them on an equal basis with others. As the EU’s population is ageing, the number of those living with disabilities or chronic health conditions is rising. For the many Europeans with a disability or chronic disease, there are many obstacles that prevent them from participating fully in everyday life, and access to the labour market remains one of the main challenges. Promoting the active inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities or chronic diseases in society is a priority for the EU agenda.
Find the latest content on this topic below.
Disability employment policy tools for engaging employers - Background paper
This background paper looks at the EU policy context regarding the labour market participation of persons with disabilities, reviews the main barriers behind the disability employment gap and outlines policy tools and workplace practices supporting their employment, retention and career development.Paths towards independent living and social inclusion in Europe for people with a disability - Background paper
This background paper looks at the EU policy context regarding deinstitutionalisation for people with long-term care needs, analyses trends and outlines strategies supporting independent living.Respondents with disabilities hit harder by unmet medical needs
Eurofound’s 2024 e-survey shows that people with disabilities in Europe are more than twice as likely as others to face unmet medical needs, with 40% reporting barriers in accessing healthcare. Financial situation, age, employment status and limited transport, especially in rural areas, are among the main reasons, underscoring persistent inequalities despite EU commitments to equal treatment.Drawing on data from the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) and the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), alongside other research, Eurofound studies the inequalities and challenges people with disabilities face and the policy approaches that could be explored.
Data from the Living and Working in the EU e-survey puts light on the situation of people with disabilities during the pandemic, comparing their situation in relation to access to healthcare, mental well-being, financial situation and optimism about the future.
Publication: People with disabilities and the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey
Research also examines the 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 policy measures in place before the pandemic, and provides an updated analysis of early policy measures created in the wake of the pandemic.
Publication: Disability and labour market integration: Policy trends and support in EU Member States
On 3 March 2021, the European Commission presented its Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021–2030. Building on the previous 10-year strategy 2010–2020, it aims to ensure that persons with disabilities can fully participate in society on an equal basis with others. While there has been progress in past decades in access to healthcare, education, employment, recreation activities and participation in political life, a lot remains to be done to remove barriers. It sets out key initiatives under three main themes: EU rights; independent living and autonomy; non-discrimination and equal opportunities. As a flagship initiative in 2022, the Commission presented a package to improve labour market outcomes of persons with disabilities. And in 2024, political agreement was reached on the Commission’s proposal for a Directive establishing the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities.
The disability strategy contributes to the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, presented by the Commission on 4 March 2021. The Pillar, formally proclaimed by the EU institutions in November 2017, reflects a joint commitment to providing a healthy, safe and well-adapted work environment for workers in the EU. It emphasises the right to equal treatment and opportunities regarding employment, social protection, education, and access to goods and services available to the public, regardless of disability.
The 10-year strategy provides the framework to support actions at EU and Member State level to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), adopted by the UN in 2006.
European Commission: Union of Equality: Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030opens in new tab
European Commission: European Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024opens in new tab
European Commission: The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Planopens in new tab
European Commission: Persons with disabilitiesopens in new tab
United Nations:Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)opens in new tab
This is a selection of the most important outputs for this topic.
13 January 2025
Quality of life in the EU in 2024: Results from the Living and Working in the EU e-survey
Eurofound’s e-survey captures the situation of European respondents and their post-pandemic concerns. This factsheet outlines the most recent data on the main challenges faced by Europeans, with a particular emphasis on the rising cost of living, health and mental health, access to healthcare services, work–life balance, and changes in telework opportunities. View the publication or read the findings in digital format via the related content.
21 March 2022
People with disabilities and the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey
A new European Disability Strategy was launched in 2021 with the aim of intensifying progress on ensuring the full participation of people with disabilities in society. The increase of EU policy focus on people with disabilities is timely: the COVID-19 pandemic magnified the challenges they faced in many spheres of their lives.
This policy brief explores the situation of Europeans with disabilities during the pandemic. Using data from the third round of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey, conducted in February–March 2021, it compares the situation of respondents with and without disabilities in four areas: access to healthcare, mental well-being, financial situation and optimism about the future. The analyses show that on all indicators the situation of people with disabilities was significantly worse.
18 April 2021
Disability and labour market integration: Policy trends and support in EU Member States
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.
8 October 2020
Access to care services: Early childhood education and care, healthcare and long-term care
The right of access to good-quality care services is highlighted in the European Pillar of Social Rights. This report focuses on three care services: early childhood education and care (ECEC), healthcare, and long-term care. Access to these services has been shown to contribute to reducing inequalities throughout the life cycle and achieving equality for women and persons with disabilities. Drawing on input from the Network of Eurofound Correspondents and Eurofound’s own research, the report presents an overview of the current situation in various EU Member States, Norway and the UK, outlining barriers to the take-up of care services and differences in access issues between population groups. It pays particular attention to three areas that have the potential to improve access to services: ECEC for children with disabilities and special educational needs, e-healthcare and respite care.
15 October 2019
How to respond to chronic health problems in the workplace?
The number of workers living with chronic health conditions is rising in the EU. Such conditions affect people’s ability to work to varying degrees. While some are unable to continue working, many wish to and would be able to do so if their workplace made adaptations to accommodate their needs. Maintaining labour force participation is a key issue for policymakers in the context of demographic ageing and a falling working-age population.
This policy brief examines chronic disease in EU workplaces: its prevalence, the impact on ability to work, the extent that workplaces are making adjustments for workers with chronic disease and the effect of that on job quality. It finds that most workers with a chronic disease that limits their ability to work do not benefit from workplace accommodation. It also finds that such adaptations can have a positive impact on the quality and sustainability of work.
30 November 2018
Social and employment situation of people with disabilities
People with disabilities are among the most disadvantaged groups in the EU. This policy brief examines the social situation of people of working age with disabilities, using data from the 2011 and 2016 rounds of the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS). The brief looks at changes over this period in employment, education and training, participation in society, social protection and healthcare, all priority areas of the European Disability Strategy. The brief also looks at the subjective well-being of this group of Europeans and examines the factors that influence their well-being. Among its policy pointers, the brief highlights the work that must be done to improve the employment situation of people with disabilities.
Researchers at Eurofound provide expert insights and can be contacted for questions or media requests.
Daphne Ahrendt
Senior research managerDaphne Ahrendt is a senior research manager in the Social Policies unit at Eurofound. She is the coordinator of the survey management and development activity. In 2020, she initiated Eurofound’s Living and Working in the EU e-survey and now leads the 2026 European Quality of Life Survey, which she has worked on since the survey started in 2003. With over 30 years of experience in international survey research, she is also a member of the GESIS Scientific Advisory Board. Beyond surveys, her substantive research focuses on social cohesion, trust and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. Daphne started her career at the National Centre for Social Research in London where she worked on the International Social Survey Programme before moving to the Eurobarometer Unit at the European Commission. She holds a Master's degree in Criminal Justice Policies from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University.
Oscar Vargas Llave
Senior research managerOscar Vargas Llave is a senior research manager in the Working Life unit at Eurofound and manages projects on changes in the world of work and the impact on working conditions and related policies: organisation of working time, remote work, the right to disconnect, health and well-being and ageing. Before joining Eurofound in December 2009, he worked as project coordinator in the field of health and safety and was responsible for the Professional Card Scheme for the Construction Sector in Spain at the non-profit Fundación Laboral de la Construcción in Madrid. He has a background in industrial sociology (Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca), and also holds a Diploma in Social Science Research Methods from the University of Cardiff and a Master’s degree in Health and Safety from the Autonomous University of Madrid.
This section provides access to all content that has been published on the topic.
