Statistics Canada has released new data showing the employment rate among Canadians with disabilities aged 25 to 64 increased from 55.5 per cent in 2017 to 61.5 per cent in 2022, while employment rates for those without disabilities decreased over the same period.
The data was released to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and includes a series of reports examining the experiences of persons with disabilities in Canada, according to the agency.
The overall disability rate in Canada increased from 22 per cent to 27 per cent during this period, with a particularly notable increase among youth with disabilities.
Workplace barriers declined
Fewer persons with disabilities faced employment barriers in 2022 compared with five years earlier. The proportion refused a job because of their condition dropped from 11.7 per cent to 9.7 per cent, while those refused a job interview fell from 8.0 per cent to 6.7 per cent.
The proportion requiring workplace accommodations decreased from 42.1 per cent in 2017 to 39.3 per cent in 2022. Among those who did require accommodations, 54.4 per cent had unmet needs in 2022, down from 62.2 per cent in 2017.
Employment gains varied by disability characteristics
Not all groups experienced the same employment rate increases. Among persons with moderate disabilities, the employment rate rose from 64.5 per cent to 69.3 per cent, while those with severe disabilities saw an increase from 43.9 per cent to 54.7 per cent. However, there was no significant change among those with mild or very severe disabilities.
Persons with two to three disability types saw their employment rate increase from 59.6 per cent to 66.8 per cent, while those with four or more types rose from 33.0 per cent to 40.5 per cent. No significant change occurred among those with one disability type.
The timing of disability onset also affected employment trends. Those who experienced onset of activity limitations at age 15 or older saw their employment rate increase from 54.9 per cent to 60.0 per cent. However, there was no significant change among persons who experienced onset exclusively before age 15.
Racialized persons with disabilities face distinct experiences
In 2022, 16.5 per cent of Canadians with disabilities aged 15 and older were part of a racialized group. The largest shares were South Asian at 4.2 per cent, Chinese at 2.9 per cent and Black at 2.7 per cent.
Racialized persons with disabilities were less likely to live alone at 12.7 per cent compared with 22.0 per cent for non-racialized persons with disabilities. They were more likely to live in households with children.
Among those aged 65 and older, racialized persons with disabilities were more likely to receive help with daily activities at 63.2 per cent versus 56.4 per cent for their non-racialized counterparts. Notably, 71.1 per cent of racialized persons with disabilities reported their children provided this support, compared with 33.1 per cent of non-racialized persons with disabilities.
Most persons with disabilities experience fluctuating limitations
Nearly two-thirds of persons with disabilities — 64.2 per cent — experienced dynamic disabilities characterized by progressive, recurrent or fluctuating limitations, while 35.2 per cent had continuous disabilities.
Among those with dynamic disabilities, 19.5 per cent experienced progressive limitations that worsened over time, 29.0 per cent had recurrent limitations with periods of one month or more without limitations, and 15.7 per cent had fluctuating limitations with varying abilities but no extended periods without limitations.
The data comes from the Canadian Survey on Disability, which identifies persons with disabilities using screening questions that measure difficulties across 10 domains of functioning.
