Remote work drives ‘remarkable’ employment surge for workers with disabilities

Dive Brief:

• Remote and flexible work have driven a “remarkable” surge in workforce participation among individuals with disabilities, according to an Oct. 16 report from SHRM.
• The civilian labor force of individuals with disabilities increased by more than 30% since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the organization said. That means nearly a quarter of people with disabilities — “a historically high rate” — participated in the labor force as of July.
• That growth can be partially attributed to the simultaneous increase in remote and flexible jobs, SHRM said, which lowered barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities.

Dive Insight:

The findings suggest that inclusive hiring practices and flexible work models can alleviate workforce challenges and foster a more diverse and competitive economic environment, according to SHRM.

“By expanding access and opportunity — especially through remote and flexible work — employers can tap into a diverse talent pool that fuels growth, resilience, and innovation,” Wendi Safstrom, president of the SHRM Foundation, said in a statement.

Other research published in the years since the onset COVID-19 pandemic supports Safstrom’s conclusion. A 2023 report from the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability concluded that a spike in workforce participation among individuals with disabilities was likely driven by two factors: flexible and remote roles, and a labor shortage that may have driven hiring managers to “break outside of their comfort zones” and consider different segments of workers.

A hybrid work consultant advised employers earlier this year to ensure remote work remains available, in light of these lessons learned. Flexibility can help create an equitable and inclusive workforce, he wrote in an op-ed for HR Dive, which he said benefits not only older workers with disabilities but also the broader economy.