Employment

Disabled people are only half as likely to be in employment as others of working age. The reasons for this are complex and include level of education and skills, fears around loss of benefits, employer know-how, low expectations, and limited re-entry to work following onset of a disability.

Since its inception in 2000 the National Disability Authority (NDA) has provided evidenced based employment policy advice to the Irish Government.

On this page

Employment Research

We generate evidence on which to base our policy advice. We do this ourselves and in collaboration with other organisations such as the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). View a video of the launch of two research reports further down this page.

Comprehensive Employment Strategy

We support the implementation of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015 - 2024 and have a role in assessing its progress.

Part 5 Disability Act 2005

We are the monitoring body for Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 which obliges public bodies to support and promote the employment of disabled people.

Three men looking at laptop, one man is a wheelchair user

Vocational Rehabilitation

We have conducted research on Vocational Rehabilitation which is the process that enables individuals to overcome the barriers they face when accessing, remaining or returning to work following injury, illness or impairment.

Employment and UNCRPD Article 27

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) requires the Irish State to recognise the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.

The provisions of Article 27 are summarised below:

People with disabilities have the right to work, on an equal basis, with others
People with disabilities have effective access to vocational guidance, placement, and training
Employing people with disabilities should be promoted through affirmative action and other measures
People with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation at work
Work experience as a measure to employ people with disabilities should be promoted in open labour market

We developed a series of in-depth papers on individual UNCRPD Articles. These papers detail the main data available relevant to specific Articles and provides an overview of key policies, programmes, services, supports and data that exist in the Irish context. Our paper on Article 27 outlines the main policies, programmes, services, supports and data available on employment in Ireland.

Read our Series of Papers on Individual UNCRPD Articles

Reasonable Accommodation

We have conducted research on the barriers to receiving reasonable accommodation to access employment and provided relevant policy advice.

Employment Guidance

We have developed good practice guidelines on a number of employment related topics.

Skills Attainment

We provide advice to new strategies and policies relating to skills attainment.

Submissions

We make various submissions on employment matters relating to people with disabilities.

Employment targets

We have published advice on the setting of new national targets for the employment of people with disabilities.

The NDA launch of two reports completed in collaboration with the OECD and the ESRI

1 Sept 2021

02:16:00