The unemployment rate among able-bodied people with disabilities reaches 85%

Attracting at least 1.0 million able-bodied people with disabilities to the labor market will accelerate GDP growth by 2.5-3.0% per year. This was stated by Oleksii Miroshnychenko, president of the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine, during the presentation of the practical guide on employment of people with disabilities, developed as part of the "Together" project.

"As of today, 2.7 million people with disabilities live in Ukraine. Of them, 2.56 million are people of working age, but only 430,000 people have a job. The unemployment rate in this group reaches 85% against 15% on average in the country. The state must fight for every workplace, for every employee. We see the great potential for the country in attracting at least 1.0 million able-bodied people with disabilities, who can be involved in the recovery of Ukraine's economy," noted Oleksii Miroshnychenko.

The President of the Confederation of Employers added that the maximum simplification of the process of obtaining a job by people with disabilities gives businesses the opportunity to find qualified and motivated employees who value the workplace and strive for professional self-realization. "Business knows little about the possibilities of engaging people with disabilities. There are prejudices that these people cannot be effective workers. Many people with disabilities do not believe in their abilities. State, business, and public sector have to do everything possible to destroy these myths," said Oleksii Miroshnychenko.

"Changes begin with awareness, myths and stereotypes must be dispelled. The issue of employment of people with disabilities has been relevant for Ukrainian society for many years, and during the war it gained special importance. Therefore, it is very important to give Ukrainian businesses useful tips on hiring employees with disabilities and improving the career growth of such employees," said Yuliya Drumea, Senior specialist of the International Labor Organization on the activities of employers' organizations.

"Employment of people with disabilities has a direct impact on them. These people have the right to self-realization, and it is work that helps them maintain their economic independence," noted Alla Horbatyuk, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Labor Affairs.

Olena Stepanenko, expert of the Confederation of Employers of Ukraine, noted that among able-bodied people with disabilities, the group with the third grade of disability has 1.47 million people, with the second - 890 thousand people, with the first - 200 thousand people. "We want to show business and society that a person with disability is not a problem, but a resource for development. 70-80% of people with disabilities perform their duties in the same way as their colleagues without disabilities. The Guide for employment of people with disabilities, developed by us, covers issues from the announcement on the search for candidates drafting and their hiring to payment and dismissal," said Olena Stepanenko. The project was implemented with the support of the International Labor Organization.

The Confederation of Employers of Ukraine has developed a serious evidence base that allows a solid conversation with the authorities regarding the creation of conditions in which it would be easy for companies to hire people with disabilities, noted Stefan Tromel, Senior specialist of the International Labor Organization on disability issues. "Empowering employment opportunities for people with disabilities is not just a challenge, it's not just a responsibility, it's an opportunity for growth and long-term success in recovery and reconstruction," said Stefan Tromel. The first barrier occurs when a company decides to hire a specialist with disability but can't find someone with the right skills. Then a request to the State Employment Service should come. A support system for enterprises that hire people with disabilities for the first time should be created.

Certain developments in this direction have already been made. "The Basic Law on the Protection of People with Disabilities is integrated into the mechanism of information exchange between the Pension Fund, employment centers and the Fund for Social Protection of People with Disabilities. This makes possible to attract more people who can be employed. Next year, we can get a much better system of administration of employment of people with disabilities," said Vitaly Muzychenko, General Director of the Fund for Social Protection of People with Disabilities. According to him, the current system does not stimulate business to employ people with disabilities.

83% of people with a disability have acquired it, not been born with it, said Diane Lightfood, Chief executive of the Business Disability Forum, UK. International experience shows the expediency of keeping employees with disabilities in the company - the cost of adapting a workplace for an employee with a disability is only 7% of the cost of hiring a new employee who has not previously worked in the company.