More than 150,000 new jobs were created in October, but that wasn’t enough to budge the unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities, the Labor Department said Friday.
Unemployment remained unchanged for those with disabilities at 14.8 percent in October. This comes as the U.S. economy added jobs for the first time since May.
While unemployment remains high among this group, the October figure represents an improvement over the same time last year when the unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities hit 16.5 percent.
However, individuals with disabilities routinely fare worse in the job market than those in the rest of the population. The unemployment rate for the general public continues to track below 10 percent.
The Department of Labor began tracking employment among people with disabilities in October 2008. There is not yet enough data compiled to establish seasonal trends within this group, so numbers are not seasonally adjusted.
Employment statistics on people with disabilities cover those over the age of 16 who do not live in institutions. The first employment report specific to this population was made available in February 2009. Now, reports are released monthly.
Actually, 150,000 jobs was not enough to change the unemplyment rate AT ALL.
Employment disparities for people w/ disabilites are very concerning. However, this was not news.