Measuring Employment Statistics

for People with Disabilities

 Measuring Employment Statistics

for People with Disabilities

David WittenburgDavid Wittenburg

OverviewOverview

Background

Cross-Sectional Employment Rates

Analyses of Trends and State Differences

Summary

Background

Cross-Sectional Employment Rates

Analyses of Trends and State Differences

Summary

BackgroundBackground

Why Measure Employment of People with Disabilities?

Why Measure Employment of People with Disabilities?

Gaps in services– How do people with disabilities fare relative to

other populations?

Successful practices/policies for further study– Are there differences across states and localities

that could inform policy development?

Policy relevance– Increasing number of policies and programs

interested in promoting employment

General trends– Are policies and programs going in the right

direction?

Gaps in services– How do people with disabilities fare relative to

other populations?

Successful practices/policies for further study– Are there differences across states and localities

that could inform policy development?

Policy relevance– Increasing number of policies and programs

interested in promoting employment

General trends– Are policies and programs going in the right

direction?

What is the Employment Rate of People with Disabilities

What is the Employment Rate of People with Disabilities

“Employment rate of people with disabilities is still a deplorable 60 to 70 percent”– The Enquirer (October 29, 2000)

“Employment rate of people with disabilities is only 56 percent”– Department of Labor, ODEP Newsletter

(February 2005) “Employment rate of people with disabilities

hovered around 35 percent”– The Accessible Society (2001)

“Employment rate of people with disabilities is still a deplorable 60 to 70 percent”– The Enquirer (October 29, 2000)

“Employment rate of people with disabilities is only 56 percent”– Department of Labor, ODEP Newsletter

(February 2005) “Employment rate of people with disabilities

hovered around 35 percent”– The Accessible Society (2001)

Cross-Sectional Employment Rates

Cross-Sectional Employment Rates

Employment Rate Measures are Sensitive to Several Factors

Employment Rate Measures are Sensitive to Several Factors

Disability conceptualizations– Definitions that range in scope and severity

Employment conceptualizations– Part-time vs. full-time– Annual vs. monthly/weekly measures

Data sources– Several surveys contain health and employment

information

Disability conceptualizations– Definitions that range in scope and severity

Employment conceptualizations– Part-time vs. full-time– Annual vs. monthly/weekly measures

Data sources– Several surveys contain health and employment

information

Annual Employment Rates are Lower for People with (Severe) Activity LimitationsAnnual Employment Rates are Lower for People with (Severe) Activity Limitations

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

No Disability "AnyDisability"

Sensory Physical Mental WorkLimitation

IADL ADL

Disability Conceptualization

Em

ploy

men

t Rat

e

Source: Wittenburg and Nelson (2006) based on 2001 Survey of Income and Program Participation data

Employment Rates are Lower for Full-Time or Shorter (e.g., monthly) Periods Employment Rates are Lower for Full-Time or Shorter (e.g., monthly) Periods

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Any-Annual Any-Monthly Full-Time Annual

Time Unit of Employment Measure

Em

plo

ymen

t R

ate

Source: Wittenburg and Nelson (2006) based on 2001 Survey of Income and Program Participation data

Annual Employment Rates Will Vary Across Data Source

Annual Employment Rates Will Vary Across Data Source

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

SIPP NHIS ACS CPSData Source

Em

plo

ymen

t R

ates

Source: Wittenburg and Nelson (2006) based on 2001 Survey of Income and Program Participation data

Summary of the Factors that Influence Employment RatesSummary of the Factors that Influence Employment Rates

Disability severity/population size– Employment rates will generally be lower with more severe

disability definitions

Employment time frame– Full-time employment measures will produce relatively

lower employment rates

Data Source– Employment rates are generally lower in data that capture

lower prevalence ratesCPS and ACS have lower employment rates (and

prevalence rates) than SIPP and NHIS for similar measues

Disability severity/population size– Employment rates will generally be lower with more severe

disability definitions

Employment time frame– Full-time employment measures will produce relatively

lower employment rates

Data Source– Employment rates are generally lower in data that capture

lower prevalence ratesCPS and ACS have lower employment rates (and

prevalence rates) than SIPP and NHIS for similar measues

Trends and State DifferencesTrends and State Differences

Several Challenges Exist to Measuring Employment Trends

Several Challenges Exist to Measuring Employment Trends Limited number of data source collect repeated

information consistently– CPS– NHIS– SIPP (1984-2004)– PSID– ACS (2003-)

Tradeoff in health versus employment information– NHIS (health) vs. CPS (employment)

Surveys change questions– SIPP changed the placement of the work

limitation question (Wittenburg and Nelson (2006)

Limited number of data source collect repeated information consistently– CPS– NHIS– SIPP (1984-2004)– PSID– ACS (2003-)

Tradeoff in health versus employment information– NHIS (health) vs. CPS (employment)

Surveys change questions– SIPP changed the placement of the work

limitation question (Wittenburg and Nelson (2006)

Employment Rates Trends Based Primarily on Activity Limitations

Employment Rates Trends Based Primarily on Activity Limitations The following data sources have most

promising information on trends– CPS (work limitations only)– NHIS (impairment, work limitations, ADLs,

IADLs)– ACS (started in 2003)

Significant decline in employment among men with disabilities– Consistent with the large increase in SSA

program participation

The following data sources have most promising information on trends– CPS (work limitations only)– NHIS (impairment, work limitations, ADLs,

IADLs)– ACS (started in 2003)

Significant decline in employment among men with disabilities– Consistent with the large increase in SSA

program participation

Limited Information Exists at the State/Local Level

Limited Information Exists at the State/Local Level

Requires the collection of representative state samples

– CPS– ACS– SSA Administrative Data

Findings from Cornell website (www.data statistics.org)– Large differences in regional

employment rates– Wyoming (51%) vs. West Virginia (24%)

Requires the collection of representative state samples

– CPS– ACS– SSA Administrative Data

Findings from Cornell website (www.data statistics.org)– Large differences in regional

employment rates– Wyoming (51%) vs. West Virginia (24%)

SummarySummary

Which Measure is Best?Which Measure is Best? The choice of the measure depends on policy

question:

– Cross Sectional Analysis of Broad Policies (e.g., New Freedom Initiative)

Several data options

– Targeted Policies (e.g., SSA disability policy) More severe definitions (ADLs, IADLs, multi-

period work limitations)Requires more health focused/specialized

surveysNew surveys from specialized projects (e.g.,

SSA Ticket Survey)

The choice of the measure depends on policy question:

– Cross Sectional Analysis of Broad Policies (e.g., New Freedom Initiative)

Several data options

– Targeted Policies (e.g., SSA disability policy) More severe definitions (ADLs, IADLs, multi-

period work limitations)Requires more health focused/specialized

surveysNew surveys from specialized projects (e.g.,

SSA Ticket Survey)

Which Measure is Best (continued)?

Which Measure is Best (continued)?

State analysis – Requires large sample (tradeoff of

limited health information)– Limited to the ACS (most promising),

CPS, and administrative data Trends

– Consistent measure over time– Generally limited to CPS, NHIS and

administrative data SIPP and ACS provide some limited

options

State analysis – Requires large sample (tradeoff of

limited health information)– Limited to the ACS (most promising),

CPS, and administrative data Trends

– Consistent measure over time– Generally limited to CPS, NHIS and

administrative data SIPP and ACS provide some limited

options

What Improvements Can be Made in Reporting Measures

What Improvements Can be Made in Reporting Measures

Increasing need for more consistent reporting of disability measures– The term “disability” may be most

problematic– Alternative: more specific reporting of

measuresPeople with work limitationsPeople with functional limitations

Increasing need for more consistent reporting of disability measures– The term “disability” may be most

problematic– Alternative: more specific reporting of

measuresPeople with work limitationsPeople with functional limitations