The Future Skills Centre, in partnership with the Toronto Metropolitan University,  the Conference Board of Canada, and Blueprint, funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program, released the Opportunity for All: Improving Workplace Experiences and Career Outcomes for Canadians With Disabilities Report.  The research delves into the barriers Canadians with disabilities experience in the workplace and highlights strategies for employers and governments to adopt to improve career advancement opportunities for individuals with disabilities. According to the report, in 2017, only 59% of Canadians with disabilities reported being employed, compared to 80% of Canadians without disabilities.

Key findings from the report:

• People with disabilities (PwD) are over-represented in low-paying jobs that are at high risk of automation, including jobs as retail salespeople, cashiers, light duty cleaners, and transport truck drivers.
• Key barriers that limit career advancement for PwD include ableism in the workplace, difficulty securing required accommodations, risk of losing government assistance and/or employer benefits, and lower self-confidence and motivation caused by repeated negative experiences in the workplace.
• Canadian employers can improve career opportunities for PwD by providing more disability awareness training in the workplace, implementing accessible recruitment and onboarding strategies, and providing necessary accommodations from the start of recruitment and onboarding.
• Governments can offer employer incentives, raise asset cut-offs to receiving disability support, and provide more funding and programming to increase access to upskilling and career advancement opportunities for PwD.

For further information about the research or to download the report, click here.