4438.0 - Disability, Vocation and Education Training, 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/06/2011  First Issue
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MEDIA RELEASE
3 June 2011
Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
71/2011

Poorer employment outcomes for Australians with disabilities


In 2009, people with disability were not gaining the same employment outcomes as people with no disability, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The type of qualification gained had a bearing on employment outcomes for people with disability. In general, being highly qualified resulted in better employment outcomes for all people, regardless of disability. Of people aged 25-44 years with specific restrictions who had degrees, 81% were employed compared to 86% of those with no disability.

However, people with specific restrictions aged 25-44 years who held certificates experienced markedly lower rates of employment (72%) than people with no disability holding the same qualifications (89%).

The disparity between people with and without disability aged 25-44 years became more apparent, the lower the level of qualification. Of people aged 25-44 years with specific restrictions whose highest educational attainment was Year 12, 55% were employed compared to 81% of people with no disability. Similarly, of people with disability whose highest attainment was lower than Year 12 , only 37% were employed compared to 75% of those with no disability.

People with disability tended to leave formal education at a greater rate than people with no disability. In 2009 people aged 15-24 years who had specific restrictions were twice as likely to leave school either at or before the age of 15 years (22%) compared to 11% of those without disability.

Of people with specific restrictions who studied certificate courses, 13% did not complete these courses compared to 2% of those with no disability.


More details can be found in Disability, Vocation and Education Training, 2009 (cat. no. 4438.0).


Media note: when reporting ABS statistics, please cite Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.