Employment and disability in Australia

People with disability make up a significant share of Australia’s working-age population but continue to face challenges in the labour market. This report highlights these challenges, identifies a sizeable job‑ready cohort, and outlines opportunities to unlock their potential through inclusive employment and targeted support.

Key findings

• The participation rate for people with disability has increased from 53% in 2018 to 60% in 2022.
• People with disability have a lower participation rate (60%) and higher unemployment rate (7%) than those without disability.
• Around 260,000 people with disability are not employed but are potentially job ready.
• Commonly cited barriers include limited suitable jobs, transport problems and a lack of workplace adjustments, rather than reasons related to their disability.