The severance rate is a ratio of how many people of 100 individuals who were unemployed in the previous month proved able to end their period of unemployment. While the rate was 6.3 percent for all unemployed persons in October, for persons with a severe disability, it was only 3.1 percent. The total amount of time spent unemployed confirms this trend: it was 155 days for all unemployed persons, but 194 days for persons with a severe disability. At the same time, the number of people with a severe disability in employment has increased in recent years: it has been consistently growing at a rate of two to three percent since 2009. It has been over 1 million since 2014, and in 2021, it was 1.11 million. This upwards trend came to a halt in 2020, however, which was severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Christina Ramb, Chair of the Administrative Board of the BA, emphasizes that many companies have long since recognised the potential offered by people with a severe disability: “Inclusion is an opportunity for everyone in the world of work. This is demonstrated by the number of people with a severe disability who are in work, which is more than 1.1. million. With its job centres and employment agencies, the Federal Employment Agency supports building bridges in the areas of training and employment and keeping employed persons in workplaces.”
Anja Piel, alternating Chair of the Administrative Board, emphasizes that: “People with disabilities are often very well trained and educated, and deserve to be given a chance on the labour market. However, almost every one in every two unemployed people with a severe disability has been unemployed for more than a year. This must change: The successful integration of people with a disability into the labour market can help to fill the shortage of skilled workers. The BA is able to provide support in this area, and assist with the take-up of employment and the provision of workplace equipment. It is high time to end the discrimination against people with disabilities.”
Companies can ask their local employment agencies and/or job centres for information regarding the recruitment and training of people with a severe disability. Information is available (in German) at the following link: https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/unternehmen/finanziell/foerderung-menschen-mit-behinderungen
The International Day of People with Disabilities takes place on the third of December.