Employment status of persons with disabilities in India: Insights from national sample survey data 2018

Disability is a physical, mental, or sensory functional limitation of the whole or part of the body. Since independence, India has undergone tremendous economic, social, and political changes. However, most of these changes have not effectively reached all sections and strata of the population. The primary objectives are to examine the employment status and the factors contributing to the low participation of persons with disabilities in India's labour force. The study used the National Sample Survey (NSS) database of the 76 th round survey on ‘Persons with Disabilities’ in India (Unit Level Records) for the year 2018. The logistic regression analysis has been used to find out the association between employability and socioeconomic factors. Additionally, we used descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis to evaluate the employment status of persons with disabilities. The results suggest that among persons with disabilities, work participation rates are only 22.8 per cent. It was found that several factors, such as residence, caste, educational levels, income, difficulties in accessing public buildings, and public transport, impact the employment status of persons with disabilities. The employability of persons with disabilities (PWDs) depends on multiple factors, such as access to education, barrier-free social space and skill development. Individuals possessing disability certificates exhibit higher employment rates compared to those who do not have such a certificate. Disability is a multidimensional issue that needs to be assessed in terms of accessibility and affordability, along with public policies and interventions. • Low workforce participation rates among persons with disabilities. • Gender and rural-urban gaps in employment are significant. • Education is a significant determinant that affects employment opportunities. • Persons with disabilities are mostly engaged in informal employment. • Work participation rates vary significantly across types of disability.