Ninety-Seven per cent of Australian employers believe there are major benefits in hiring people with disabilities despite continued challenges to greater employment and inclusion, according to APM’s 2021 APM Disability, Diversity & Inclusivity (DDI) Index.
As Australia prepares to recognise the International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), the DDI evaluates disability diversity and inclusion in the nation’s workplaces.
The 2021 Index score was 56.2, down marginally from last year’s inaugural score of 57.6 indicating the impact of COVID-19 that led to a decline in Culture and Accessibility scores. Positively, the survey highlighted a significant increase in Career Equity, up 19.5 percentage points to 67.2 off the back of the Federal Government’s JobKeeper Payment scheme.
While the 2021 report found most businesses embraced the benefits of disability employment, in many cases businesses believed it was altruistic, benefiting the employee more so than the business.
“While it’s encouraging to see so many employers getting behind disability employment, too often it’s seen as a “good thing to do” as opposed to a smart move that benefits the overall business through greater productivity and inclusion,” said APM Group CEO Michael Anghie.
Mr Anghie said research has consistently shown that people with disabilities have lower rates of absenteeism taking less sick and personal leave and have a higher retention rates than other workers.
Nearly three in five (57.9%) employers with experience hiring people with disabilities say they have gained organisational benefits; the most common being improvements in workplace culture and skill diversity. Only 8.9% cited no benefits at all.
In contrast, 34% of employers with no experience hiring people with disabilities believe they would provide organisational benefits, but 21% think it would be detrimental, and Mr Anghie said many remain on the fence, or uncertain of the benefits.
“Lack of ‘suitable roles’ is cited by 53% of employers as the main factor stopping recruitment of people with disability, suggesting many employers continue to underrate their capabilities,” he said.
