9. Canadian Indicators for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) - article 27: work and employment

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List of figures

9.1a Employment rate, 2021

Figure 9.1a: Employment rate, by disability status and gender, persons aged 25 to 64 years, 2021
Text description of Figure 9.1a follows
Figure 9.1a - Text description
Gender Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Men+ 63% 82%*
Women+ 61% 73%*
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities in the same gender category (p<0.05)

Persons with disabilities had lower rates of employment than those without disabilities.

Among men aged 25 to 64 years, 63% of those with disabilities were employed compared to 82% of those without disabilities. Among women aged 25 to 64 years, 61% of those with disabilities were employed compared to 73% of those without disabilities.

9.1b Employment rate trend, 2022 to 2024

Figure 9.1b: Employment rate trend, by disability status and gender, persons aged 25 to 64 years, 2022 to 2024
Text description of Figure 9.1b follows
Figure 9.1b - Text description
Year Gender Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
2022 Total, all genders 67.0% 83.7%
2023 Total, all genders 66.2% 83.6%
2024 Total, all genders 67.1% 83.0%
2022 Men+ 68.5% 88.1%
2023 Men+ 67.6% 87.7%
2024 Men+ 67.4% 87.1%
2022 Women+ 65.7% 78.9%
2023 Women+ 65.0% 79.4%
2024 Women+ 66.8% 78.7%

The employment rates for persons with and without disabilities aged 25 to 64 years remained fairly steady between 2022 and 2024. As a result, the overall gap in the employment rates by disability status also remained stable throughout this period (at about 16 to 17 percentage points). The gap was higher among men (around 20 percentage points) and lower among women (around 12 to 14 percentage points). Among persons without disabilities, the gap in employment rates by gender remained stable at around 8 to 9 percentage points. The gap among persons with disabilities was smaller at around 1 to 3 percentage points.

9.2 Not in the Labour Force (NILF)

Figure 9.2: NILF rate, by disability status and gender, persons aged 25 to 64 years, 2021
Text description of Figure 9.2 follows
Figure 9.2 - Text description
Gender Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Men+ 28% 12%*
Women+ 32% 20%*
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities in the same gender category (p<0.05)

Persons with disabilities had lower rates of labour force participation than those without disabilities. Among men aged 25 to 64 years, those with disabilities were more likely than those without disabilities to not be in the labour force (28% versus 12%). Among women aged 25 to 64 years, those with disabilities were more likely than those without disabilities to not be in the labour force (32% versus 20%).

9.3 Work potential

Figure 9.3: Proportion with work potential, by age and gender, persons with disabilities aged 15 to 64 years who were unemployed or not in the labour force, 2022
Text description of Figure 9.3 follows
Figure 9.3 - Text description
Gender 15 to 24 years 25 to 64 years
Men+ 86% 43%
Women+ 91% 41%

Among men with disabilities who were unemployed or not in the labour force, 86% of those aged 15 to 24 years and 43% of those aged 25 to 64 years had work potential. Among women with disabilities who were unemployed or not in the labour force, 91% of those aged 15 to 24 years and 41% of those aged 25 to 64 years had work potential.

9.4 Part-time employment

Figure 9.4: Part-time employment rate, by disability status and gender, workers aged 25 to 64 years, 2021
Text description of Figure 9.4 follows
Figure 9.4 - Text description
Gender Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Men+ 12% 8%*
Women+ 19% 18%
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities in the same gender category (p<0.05)

Among working men aged 25 to 64 years, those with disabilities were more likely than those without disabilities to work part-time (12% versus 8%). Among working women aged 25 to 64 years, those with disabilities and those without disabilities had similar part-time employment rates (19% versus 18%).

9.5a Self-employment rate

Figure 9.5a: Self-employment rate, by disability status and gender, workers aged 25 to 64 years, 2021
Text description of Figure 9.5a follows
Figure 9.5a - Text description
Gender Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Men+ 16% 18%*
Women+ 11% 12%
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities in the same gender category (p<0.05)

Among working men aged 25 to 64 years, those with disabilities were less likely than those without disabilities to be self-employed (16% versus 18%). Among working women aged 25 to 64 years, 11% of those with disabilities and 12% of those without disabilities were self-employed. Among workers aged 25 to 64 years, men were more likely than women to be self-employed for both persons with disabilities (16% versus 11%) and persons without disabilities (18% versus 12%).

9.5b Self-employment distribution

Figure 9.5b: Self-employment distribution, by disability status, self-employed workers aged 25 to 64 years, 2021
Text description of Figure 9.5b follows
Figure 9.5b - Text description
Self-employment category Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Unincorporated, no paid help 62% 47%*
Unincorporated, with paid help 10% 11%
Incorporated, no paid help 16% 18%
Incorporated, with paid help 11% 22%*
Unpaid family worker 1% 2%*
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities in the same self-employment category (p<0.05)

Among self-employed workers aged 25 to 64 years, those with disabilities were more likely than those without disabilities to be self-employed in an unincorporated business with no paid help (62% versus 47%). Conversely, they were less likely than those without disabilities to be self-employed in an incorporated business with paid help (11% versus 22%).

9.6 Employment income trend, 2015 to 2023

Figure 9.6: Median employment income trend, by disability status and sex, persons aged 15 years and over employed full-time for the full-year, 2015 to 2023
Text description of Figure 9.6 follows
Figure 9.6 - Text description
Year Total, men and women with disabilities Men with disabilities Women with disabilities Total, men and women without disabilities Men without disabilities Women without disabilities
2015 $59,500 $63,500 $53,700 $66,100 $73,200 $57,100
2016 $60,100 $69,300 $52,600 $64,100 $71,100 $56,400
2017 $59,300 $67,900 $53,100 $66,300 $73,600 $56,500
2018 $59,000 $65,500 $52,300 $65,900 $72,800 $57,700
2019 $56,500 $63,000 $51,600 $67,800 $74,300 $59,300
2020 $70,100 $75,700 $64,200 $71,800 $77,200 $64,900
2021 $67,200 $71,300 $62,800 $71,200 $78,200 $62,500
2022 $64,400 $70,500 $59,700 $68,900 $75,500 $59,900
2023 $65,000 $72,600 $58,900 $69,100 $75,700 $61,200

The median employment income (in 2023 constant dollars) of persons working full-time for the full year has been on a general upward trend since 2015. The overall income gap between persons with and without disabilities has varied across the years with an overall decrease from 2015 to 2023 (from $6,600 to $4,100). In 2020, it reached its lowest value, which should be considered with caution given the government support provided through COVID-19 benefits between 2020 and 2021. The median employment income (in 2023 constant dollars) of men who worked full-time for the full year has been on a general upward trend since 2015. The income gap between men with and without disabilities has varied across the years with an overall decrease from 2015 to 2023 (from $9,700 to $3,100). The median employment income (in 2023 constant dollars) of women who worked full-time for the full year has been on a general upward trend since 2015. The income gap between women with and without disabilities has varied across the years with an overall decrease from 2015 to 2023 (from $3,400 to $2,300). The gap reached its lowest levels between 2020 and 2022.

9.7 Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET)

Figure 9.7: NEET rate, by disability status and gender, persons aged 15 to 24 years, 2021
Text description of Figure 9.7 follows
Figure 9.7 - Text description
Gender Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Men+ 22% 10%*
Women+ 12% 8%*
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities in the same gender category (p<0.05)

Young persons with disabilities had higher NEET rates than those without disabilities.

Among men aged 15 to 24 years, 22% of those with disabilities were not in employment, education, or training. This compares to 10% of those without disabilities. Among women aged 15 to 24 years, 12% of those with disabilities were not in employment, education, or training. This compares to 8% of those without disabilities.

9.8 Career advancement

Figure 9.8: Proportion with good prospects for career advancement, by disability status and sex, employees aged 25 to 64 years, 2016
Text description of Figure 9.8 follows
Figure 9.8 - Text description
Sex Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Men 43% 57%*
Women 42% 51%*
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities of the same sex (p<0.05)

Lower proportions of persons with disabilities reported good prospects for career advancement than those without disabilities. Among employed men aged 25 to 64 years, 43% of those with disabilities said that their job offered good prospects for career advancement. This compares to 57% of those without disabilities. Among employed women aged 25 to 64 years, 42% of those with disabilities said that their job offered good prospects for career advancement. This compares to 51% of those without disabilities.

9.9 Employment benefits

Figure 9.9: Proportion with access to employment benefits, by disability status, employees aged 25 to 64 years, 2016
Text description of Figure 9.9 follows
Figure 9.9 - Text description
Employment benefit category Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Disability insurance 41% 48%*
Maternity, parental, or layoff benefits 40% 47%*
Workplace pension plan 37% 43%*
Paid sick leave 41% 46%*
Paid vacation leave 54% 59%*
Supplemental medical or dental care 46% 51%*
Worker's compensation 49% 52%*
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities within the same employment benefit category (p<0.05)

Employees with disabilities were less likely than those without disabilities to have access to employment benefits, for all listed categories. For example, 40% of employees with disabilities reported they had access to maternity, parental, or layoff benefits, compared with 47% of those without disabilities.

9.10 Verbal, sexual, or physical violence at work

Figure 9.10: Proportion subjected to verbal, sexual, or physical violence at work, by disability status and sex, employed persons aged 25 to 64 years, 2016
Text description of Figure 9.10 follows
Figure 9.10 - Text description
Sex Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Men 18% 8%*
Women 21% 13%*
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities of the same sex (p<0.05)

Persons with disabilities were more likely to report experiencing verbal, sexual, or physical violence at work than those without disabilities. Among employed men aged 25 to 64 years, 18% of those with disabilities experienced verbal, sexual, or physical violence at work. This compares to 8% of those without disabilities. Among employed women aged 25 to 64 years, 21% of those with disabilities experienced verbal, sexual, or physical violence at work. This compares to 13% of those without disabilities.

9.11 Labour force discrimination

Figure 9.11: Proportion who experienced labour discrimination because of their condition, by gender, employees with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years, 2022
Text description of Figure 9.11 follows
Figure 9.11 - Text description
Form of labour discrimination Men+ Women+
Disadvantaged in employment 26% 26%
Refused a promotion 9% 9%
Refused a job 9% 8%

Employees with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years were asked about their experiences with labour force discrimination. Around 26% of both men and women considered themselves disadvantaged in employment due to their condition. Around 9% of men and 8% of women reported that they had been refused a job because of their condition in the past 5 years. Similarly, 9% of both men and women reported that they had been refused a job promotion because of their condition in the past 5 years.

9.12 Workplace accommodations

Table 9.1: Requirements and needs met for the 5 most commonly required workplace accommodations, employees with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years, 2022
Type of workplace accommodation Required Needs met
Modified hours or days or reduced work hours 16% 77%
Modified or different duties 12% 69%
Working from home 11% 81%
Modified or ergonomic workstation 11% 64%
Special chair or back support 11% 56%

Among employees with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years, the most commonly required workplace accommodation was "modified hours or days or reduced work hours" (16%), and the need was met for 77% of the employees who required it to be able to work. The second most commonly required workplace accommodation was "modified or different duties" (12%), and the need was met for 69% of the employees who required it to be able to work. About 11% of employees with disabilities aged 25 to 64 required the following workplace accommodations: "working from home", "modified or ergonomic workstations", or "special chairs or back support". Among those who needed these accommodations, 81% had their need met for "working from home", 64% had their need met for "modified or ergonomic workstations", and 56% had their need met for "special chairs or back support".

9.13 Employment by occupation

Figure 9.12: Occupation distribution, by disability status, employees aged 25 to 64 years, 2021
Text description of Figure 9.12 follows
Figure 9.12 - Text description
Occupation category Persons with disabilities Persons without disabilities
Business, finance, and administration occupations 21% 19%*
Sales and service occupations 20% 19%
Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services 16% 13%*
Trades, transport, and equipment operators and related occupations 15% 18%*
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations 9% 10%
Health occupations 8% 9%
Occupations in manufacturing and utilities 4% 5%
Occupations in art, culture, recreation, and sport 4% 3%*
Natural resources, agriculture, and related production occupations 2% 3%*
Legislative and senior management occupations 1% 2%*
  • * significantly different from estimate for persons with disabilities within the same occupation category (p<0.05)

Higher proportions of persons with disabilities than persons without disabilities worked in "business, finance, and administration occupations" (21% versus 19%), "occupations in education, law and social, community and government services" (16% versus 13%), and "occupations in art, culture, recreation, and sport" (4% versus 3%). Conversely, lower proportions of persons with disabilities than persons without disabilities worked in "trades, transport, and equipment operators and related occupations" (15% versus 18%), "natural resources, agriculture, and related production occupations" (2% versus 3%), and "legislative and senior management occupations" (1% versus 2%).

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2025-12-10