Measuring Employment Statistics for People with Disabilities David Wittenburg

Overview Background Cross-Sectional Employment Rates Analyses of Trends and State Differences Summary Background Cross-Sectional Employment Rates Analyses of Trends and State Differences Summary

Background

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 “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

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

Annual Employment Rates Will Vary Across Data Source Source: Wittenburg and Nelson (2006) based on 2001 Survey of Income and Program Participation data

Summary 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 rates  CPS 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 rates  CPS and ACS have lower employment rates (and prevalence rates) than SIPP and NHIS for similar measues

Trends and State Differences

Several Challenges Exist to Measuring Employment Trends Limited number of data source collect repeated information consistently –CPS –NHIS –SIPP ( ) –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 ( ) –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 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 Requires the collection of representative state samples –CPS –ACS –SSA Administrative Data Findings from Cornell website ( 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 ( statistics.org) –Large differences in regional employment rates –Wyoming (51%) vs. West Virginia (24%)

Summary

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 surveys  New 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 surveys  New surveys from specialized projects (e.g., SSA Ticket Survey)

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 Increasing need for more consistent reporting of disability measures –The term “disability” may be most problematic –Alternative: more specific reporting of measures  People with work limitations  People with functional limitations Increasing need for more consistent reporting of disability measures –The term “disability” may be most problematic –Alternative: more specific reporting of measures  People with work limitations  People with functional limitations