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nTIDE Deeper Dive November 2024: Employment Trends Highlight Strength of Veterans with Disabilities
Veterans maintain higher employment rates than the general population with disabilities, demonstrating resilience and adaptability
East Hanover, NJ – December 3, 2024 – Veterans with disabilities continue to outperform the general population of people with disabilities in employment rates, highlighting the possible impact of specialized training and participation in essential industries, according to a new analysis shared during a National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Deeper Dive Lunch & Learn Webinar held on November 22. nTIDE is a joint effort by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD).
Despite pandemic challenges, veterans with disabilities sustained robust employment levels, outpacing peers. nTIDE expert Andrew Houtenville, PhD, economics professor and research director at UNH-IOD noted, “Veterans bring training and skills, especially from combat experiences, which may contribute to their higher employment rates. Their ability to adapt and overcome barriers aligns with the fortitude we associate with military service.”
The employment-to-population ratio calculated from a 12-month average (April 2023 to March 2024) for people with disabilities stood at 37.3%, while veterans with disabilities reached a higher rate of 44.8%, according to the latest nTIDE data. This consistent pattern highlights how veterans with disabilities have historically maintained higher employment levels compared to their non-veteran counterparts with disabilities. The report showed that veterans without disabilities had an employment rate of 80.2%, higher than non-veterans without disabilities at 75.0%.
Resilience During Economic Downturns
Unlike other groups, veterans with disabilities exhibited minimal employment declines during the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially due to their prevalence in essential sectors. nTIDE co-presenter John O’Neill, PhD, director, Center for Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation, echoed Dr. Houtenville, adding, “The steady employment rates of veterans with disabilities during the pandemic may be linked to the types of jobs they held and the unique strengths they bring to the workforce.”
The findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions for veterans with disabilities, such as skills training and employer incentives. Dr. O’Neill emphasized. “Understanding these employment patterns is crucial for shaping policies that support veterans and close gaps in employment for people with disabilities.”
This research is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and Kessler Foundation.
On December 6, 2024, at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Eastern, join nTIDE experts Drs. John O’Neill and Andrew Houtenville and Denise Rozell, director of policy innovation at AUCD in our free Lunch & Learn live or visit the nTIDE archives at: ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE. Scheduled guest presenter is Michael Fembek, CEO, the Zero Project. Founded in Austria, the nonprofit’s mission is working towards a world with zero barriers.
About the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire
The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) was established in 1987 to provide a university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. For information on the NIDILRR-funded Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics, visit ResearchOnDisability.org.
About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research. Our scientists seek to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes, including employment, for adults and children with neurological and developmental disabilities of the brain and spinal cord including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and autism. Kessler Foundation also leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org.