Increasing the number of Australian workers with disability could cause a $16 billon dollar economic boom

Key points:

• Researchers at Curtin University have released a report that highlights numerous benefits of employing Australians with disability, such as boosting the economy
• Employing people with disability can also increase their general well-being and overall life satisfaction
• Prime Support Services Australia provides support to people with disability through multiple services, including assistance with finding employment and related job guidance

SPONSORED — Business and innovation experts have raised concerns regarding the low employment rate for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants and highlighted the importance of increasing the number of diverse workplaces in Australia. 

Researchers at Curtin University have recently identified that ‘increasing the number of people with disability who are employed by 10 percent would raise national economic output by $16 billion dollars per year.’

When an economy booms, results often show through increased employment opportunities, lower inflation and improved living standards for the country’s residents. 

Additionally, other research suggests that improving employment outcomes for people with disability can benefit individual companies. For example, workplaces that hire people with disability and provide reasonable adjustments ‘often see improved productivity levels’ in their organisations.

Data from National Disability Services also emphasised that workers with disability are four times more likely to remain with their employer, rather than change jobs, compared to people without disability. 

Despite the obvious benefits of hiring people with disability, 48 percent of Australians with disability are employed compared to 80 percent of peers without disability, as per recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 

Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Professor Mike Dockery commented on the current problems with NDIS employment support for participants.

“Our analysis shows the NDIS has failed to deliver any discernible improvements in employment outcomes, with currently only around one-third of NDIS support plans for working-age clients including employment-related goals,” he said.

Approximately 23 percent of NDIS participants of working age were employed after receiving NDIS employment support, compared with a 26 percent target for 2023 – 2024. Approximately 661,270 Australians are active NDIS participants. 

However, Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Director Professor Alan Duncan highlighted that improving Australia’s economy shouldn’t be the only reason to hire people with disability. 

“While the economic outcomes would be significant, a focus on this aspect alone risks overlooking the positive impacts and long-term benefits to the health, well-being and life satisfaction of meaningful employment and greater social inclusion for those facing greater life challenges,” he said.

People with disability experience reduced levels of life satisfaction with a major contributor being ‘exclusion from the labour market.’

While the NDIS is expected to reform the current Disability Employment Services program to take effect from July 1, 2025, young people with disability who want to work can access other services that may quicken this process. 

Disability support providers such as Prime Support Services Australia offer many services to their clients, including employment assistance, and provide personalised support for positive job outcomes. 

Unlike some other employment support providers with short-term solutions, Prime Support Services Australia’s goal is to ‘empower clients with the skills, competence and confidence necessary to succeed in the workplace and achieve long-term career stability.’

This includes providing job search strategies, developing resumes, preparing for interviews and guidance regarding job performance. 

In addition to employment assistance, Prime Support Services Australia can help people with disability with community participation, transport, development of life skills and household tasks. 

To contact Prime Support Services Australia, phone 1300 585 222, email [email protected] or complete their online contact form for more information. Alternatively, you can visit their website.

The benefits of hiring people with disability can include increased morale in the workplace, different methods of solving problems and greater levels of teamwork and cohesion. Read more about diversity in the workplace in this article: Why are inclusive workplaces so important?

When looking for employment, people with disability may want to consider their own abilities and what possible challenges they may face related to their desired roles. 

This may include the type and size of a company, what training or career opportunities there are, what the company culture is, and whether their values align with yours.

Read more about how to find work as a person with disability in this article: Finding work when living with a disability.

What sort of work would you like to have as a person with disability?

Let the team at Talking Disability know on social media. 

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