Factors influencing the disabled's employment in the competitive labour market

Int J Rehabil Res. 1995;18(1):19-25. doi: 10.1097/00004356-199501000-00002.

Abstract

Factors influencing the disabled's job search outcome were studied by means of material representing disabled job seekers (n = 1353) in three Finnish Employment Service Agencies during 1988-89. The job search outcome was defined successful if a job seeker was employed in the competitive labour market according to the ESA files during a follow-up period of 12-18 months and no unemployment was registered. The factors studied were age, gender, domicile, basic education, vocational training and disability. First, the relationship of the above factors to job search outcome was described bivariately, then it was studied by means of logistic regression models for men and women separately. The results were somewhat gender specific. For men, inadequate basic education had a negative influence on job search outcome, while for women, the outcome was influenced by domicile. Older disabled job seekers, both male and female, were disadvantaged. The problems created by age and disability are a challenge to rehabilitation. The results also point out adult training as a means for improving the disabled's labour market status. Finally, all of the disabled's problems are not on the individual level: it is not only who you are but also where you live that matters.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Disabled Persons*
  • Educational Status
  • Employment*
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Private Sector*
  • Sex Factors