Abled Workers Unite
Bureau of Labor Statistics Report February 2025
Part-Time Employment: Workers with disabilities are more likely to be employed part-time compared to those without disabilities. (BLS, February 2025)
Occupational Differences: People with disabilities are more likely to work in service occupations and production, transportation, and material moving occupations, but less likely to be in management and professional roles. (BLS, February 2025)
Government Employment: Individuals with disabilities are slightly more likely to be employed by the federal government compared to those without disabilities. (BLS, February 2025)
Continued Upward Trend: Data from the end of 2024 indicates that the upward trend in disability employment continued, although the rate remains significantly lower than that of people without disabilities. (National Partnership for Women & Families, February 2025)
Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 info for People with Disabilities
Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 7.5% in 2024. This is about twice the unemployment rate for people without disabilities, which was 3.8%. (BLS, February 2025)
Labor Force Participation: People with disabilities are much less likely to be in the labor force compared to those without disabilities.
Trends: While the employment rate for people with disabilities has seen some improvement in recent years and reached a record high in 2023 since data collection began in 2008, significant disparities remain. #AWU #disability #jobs
Disability Employment! There is still a lot of work to do!
Key Statistics (as of February 2025):
- Employment-Population Ratio: In 2024, the employment-population ratio for people with disabilities was 22.7%. This means that roughly 22.7% of the population with disabilities was employed. In contrast, the employment-population ratio for those without disabilities was significantly higher at 65.5%.
Many of us working in the disability employment field are working hard to increase this percentage. IMO education and skill development are key factors. All those who want to work should be able to. #AWU #disability #jobs
"Interview Tip"
Question! If you could do any job in the world, what would it be?
What NOT to say:
Something completely unrelated and unrealistic: "Astronaut!" (Unless you have a relevant background and are applying to SpaceX, maybe rethink this). It shows a lack of focus on the role at hand.
Something vague and uninspired: "Rich person." While honest, it doesn't tell the interviewer anything about your skills or motivations.
The job you're interviewing for (but insincerely): While it might seem like the obvious answer, if it lacks genuine enthusiasm and reasoning, it can fall flat. What TO say (and how to make it shine):
The ideal answer demonstrates:
Self-Awareness: You understand your core skills, values, and what truly motivates you.
Transferable Skills: You can connect your "dream job" to the skills and qualities relevant to the role you're applying for.
Passion & Enthusiasm: You show genuine excitement for something, which can translate to your work ethic.
Long-Term Thinking: It offers a glimpse into your broader career interests and potential growth areas. Here's a framework you can adapt:
Choose a "dream job" that reflects your core interests and values. This doesn't have to be directly related to the role.
Explain why that job appeals to you. Focus on the aspects that resonate with your personality and what you find fulfilling (e.g., problem-solving, creativity, helping others, continuous learning).
Connect the skills or qualities required for your dream job to the skills needed for the role you're interviewing for. This is the crucial step! Show how your inherent interests and abilities align with the opportunity at hand.
Pivot back to your enthusiasm for the current opportunity. Reiterate why you're excited about this specific role and how it allows you to utilize some of those same skills and passions.
Example
"If I could do any job in the world, I'd love to be a documentary filmmaker focused on social impact. I'm deeply passionate about understanding different perspectives, researching complex issues, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire positive change. While this [interviewed role] as a Marketing Specialist might seem different, it actually draws on many of the same skills: understanding audience needs, developing creative and impactful messaging, and ultimately, telling a story that resonates. I'm excited about the opportunity here to use those skills to elevate [Company Name]'s mission and connect with our customers in a meaningful way."
Key Takeaway: This question isn't about fantasy; it's about understanding your drivers and how they connect to the professional world. By being thoughtful and strategic in your response, you can leave a lasting positive impression. AIG
A Call to Action for Professionals with Disabilities in the STEMM fields!
disABLEDperson Inc., a public charity nonprofit in conjunction with the Michigan Rehabilitation Services, is developing a career video library containing multiple short videos of interviews of people with disabilities in the STEMM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine). We are looking for STEMM professionals in the state of Michigan who would agree to sit for a short recorded interview and share their journey and challenges in their respective professions to help others with disabilities attain the same level of professionalism. These videos will be shared throughout the State-based Vocational Rehabilitation Community in the state of Michigan and nationally. A small stipend is available. We are looking for 15 individuals. If you are interested, please contact Mike Corso at Mike@disabledperson.com #AWU #disability #jobs
“Interview Tip”
Do You Consider Yourself to Be a Team Player? Why or Why Not?
Be careful here, as interpreting this question too literally can backfire on you. Companies are asking this question because teamwork is essential, on some level, in most roles – even those where you’re primarily an individual contributor. If you don’t consider yourself a team player and prefer to work on your own, it’s best to be diplomatic in how you explain this. Stating your preference is one thing, but flat out saying that you aren’t a team player will backfire and give you a red flag from most interviewers.
How to Answer "Do You Consider Yourself to Be a Team Player?" If you truly hate teamwork and want to be upfront about it, try stating something along these lines: “I’m honestly an amazing individual contributor since in this role, focus is so important – but I also understand and very much value partnership and collaboration. I’m a team player when it helps everyone achieve our goals, and I’m also very self-motivated to work individually as needed.” #AWU #disability #Interviewquestions
"Interview Question”
What Would You Do in the First 30, 60 and 90 Days on the Job?
Active listening will come in handy here. This common interview question may be hard to prepare for in advance, since details that you learn during the interview itself about the employer's priorities may help you formulate a better, more specific answer.
How to Answer "What Would You Do in the First 30, 60 and 90 Days on the Job?" If you need a refresher about any points that your interviewers have raised in terms of their priorities, or if they haven't shared them yet, it's fair to ask for clarification before you begin answering. Knowing what the hiring manager cares most about is key to how you should frame your plan for what you would do during your initial months in the position. #AWU #disability #Interviewquestions
“Interview Question”
What Do You Find the Most Stressful About This Type of Role? This is another potential minefield that you should answer with care, rather than off the cuff. Interviewers are looking for examples that suggest you handle stress well. Your goal is to show that you do know how to manage stressful situations with grace.
How to Answer "What Do You Find the Most Stressful About This Type of Role?" A winning response might be: “It’s true that this role can be stressful, and I’ve certainly dealt with my share of it in previous positions. If I had to say what the biggest stressor is, I’d pinpoint timing issues. I’m a stickler for meeting deadlines and delivering to my team what I say I will – so when it comes to crunch time, I feel the pressure until I’ve crossed the finish line.” #AWU #disability #Interviewquestions
"Interview Question”
What Kind of Impact Do You Hope to Have in Your Next Role?
Hiring teams want to know what candidates can do for them, and this impact question gives you the perfect opportunity to impress them with your drive.
How to Answer "What Kind of Impact Do You Hope to Have in Your Next Role?" The specific type of impact you emphasize will depend on the specific industry or job you’re applying to. But in general, you can stress that you want to build on the skills you bring to the table and that you hope to leverage your experience from your last position to help the company achieve its goals.
For example: “One of my biggest goals that I plan to achieve with my next employer is to take all of my learnings from my career to date to create something big. The first part of my career has been about understanding as much as I can about the industry, and now I finally feel like I’m in the perfect place to have a significant impact in whatever key projects I’m working on.” #AWU #disability #Interviewquestions
"Job Search"
Preparing your references. Always assume that a company will reach out to the references you provide. Select contacts who can speak positively about your work ethic. Be sure to ask permission before giving out their contact information
Neglecting to inform your references. No matter how great your references are, make sure to give them a heads-up that they may be contacted. Otherwise, they may be caught off guard and give you a less-than-stellar recommendation or ignore the call altogether. #AWU ##disability #jobsearch