LABOUR FORCE STATUS

Participation in employment provides personal, economic and social benefits for all people, however those with disability may face numerous barriers to employment. Labour force participation rates provide a measure of the proportion of the population who are either employed or actively looking for work. Overall, the labour force participation rate of people of working age (15-64 years) with disability was lower (52.8%) than for those without disability (82.5%).

People needing assistance were even less likely to be in the labour force (40.5%), and those with an unmet need for formal assistance less likely again (35.8%). People whose needs for formal assistance were fully met had a slightly higher likelihood of participating in the labour force (42.0%).




INCOME

Those in low income households are defined as people in the bottom two quintiles of equivalised household income. Around one in five (21.8%) Australians aged 15-64 years were in low income households in 2012. Amongst people with disability, this proportion increased to 40.7%, and increased again for those who had an unmet need for formal assistance (53.5%, or 205,800 people). This was slightly higher than for those who needed formal assistance whose needs were met (48.3%, or 143,100 people).

Amongst those with disability who expressed a need for formal assistance, people with higher incomes were the most likely to have their needs met (52.5%) compared with people in low income households (41.0%).