Media Release - People with disability still face barriers to employment

Date published : 14  June  2012 

The third annual report on the National Disability Agreement released today by the COAG Reform Council shows that Australia has a long way to go before it breaks down barriers for people with disability. Chairman of the council, Mr Paul McClintock AO, said the report shows that Australians with disability face major challenges to participating fully in employment and society. "It would have been good to report some solid gains between 2003 and 2009, but in the area of workforce participation, there was very little improvement for people with disability and that was despite an improving labour market. The report shows that in 2009, Australians with disability had employment to population rates of 50 per cent compared to around 79 per cent for people without disability. The labour force participation rate was also significantly lower at 54 per cent compared to 83 per cent. Western Australia, the ACT and the Northern Territory all perform better than the nation as a whole. They have higher labour force participation and employment rates for people with disability.

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