A report from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli reveals that while the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities in New York has increased by 4.6 percentage points between 2019 and 2024, significant disparities remain compared to those without disabilities. In 2024, only 28.8% of individuals with disabilities participated in the labor force, which is less than half the rate for non-disabled New Yorkers (69.9%) and below the national rate for people with disabilities (32.3%).
“This year marks the 35th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act and while we’ve made some progress, challenges remain and more effort is needed to ensure people with disabilities have equal opportunities in the workplace,” DiNapoli said. “Providing accommodations for workplace flexibility and encouraging employers to practice inclusive hiring can help improve employment outcomes for people with a disability. By championing inclusion, we create progress, prosperity and a stronger New York.”
In 2024, over 2.5 million New Yorkers aged 16 and older had a disability, making up about 15% of the working-age population. The report highlights that individuals with disabilities are less likely to complete high school or earn a bachelor’s degree and generally have lower rates of employment and earnings compared to those without disabilities. In addition, one in four New Yorkers with a disability lived below the poverty line in 2024, compared to one in five nationally.
National data shows that labor force participation among people with disabilities increased by five percentage points from 2019 to 2024, especially between 2019 and 2021. Research suggests that expanded remote work options after Covid-19 allowed more people with disabilities to join or stay in the workforce, as well as tighter labor markets encouraging inclusive hiring practices.
New York State has introduced several initiatives aimed at improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The “Employment First” initiative requires state agencies to develop plans for increasing competitive integrated employment (CIE) and encourages businesses to adopt inclusive hiring practices. Since its launch in 2015, Employment First aimed to raise the employment rate of people with disabilities by five percent and reduce their poverty rate by five percent statewide; data from 2024 indicates these employment goals have been surpassed over ten years, though reductions in poverty have been less substantial.
State agencies must submit annual plans detailing efforts to hire more individuals with disabilities, while the Chief Disability Officer collects data annually on agency progress toward these goals.
Other measures include legislative changes made in 2022 to the Preferred Source Contracting Program designed to promote inclusivity within nonprofit jobs and increase CIE opportunities. Specialized hiring programs under Civil Service Law sections 55-b and 55-c also exist within state government for workers with disabilities. Additionally, since 2015 businesses employing individuals with disabilities can claim personal income tax or corporate franchise tax credits.
DiNapoli stressed using current vocational programs more effectively, improving transportation options for jobs not suited for remote work, and educating employers about benefits associated with hiring workers who have disabilities as key strategies for reducing barriers faced by this population.
The full report is available online: Economic and Policy Insights – Workers with Disabilities Achieve Labor Force Gains, but Disparities Remain
Related reports discuss ongoing issues such as slow employment recovery among New Yorkers with disabilities.
