Target to halve the disability employment gap won’t be met unless urgent action is taken

The Economy and Fair Work Committee is calling on the Scottish Government to deliver a clear and measurable action plan that focuses on the needs of people with a learning disability and neurodiverse people, if the ambition to halve the disability employment gap by 2038 is to become a reality. 

The call comes as the Committee publishes a report following an inquiry into the disability employment gap.

During evidence, the Committee heard that the current strategy does not contain enough detail on how the target will be achieved. The Committee says that the Scottish Government must now listen to voices of people with lived experience to understand where improvements are needed to help disabled people into employment, particularly those who are the furthest from the workplace.

The Committee’s report considers the specific barriers disabled people face, what help is available for them to access the labour market, and the support available for employers for more inclusive recruitment practices and workplaces.

As part of its work, the Committee took evidence from, and engaged with, disabled people seeking employment as well as those who support them. It repeatedly heard that the way society views disabled people needs to change if they are to gain qualifications, access suitable jobs and thrive in the workplace.

The Committee also heard how most business owners want to employ disabled people, but that the fear of “getting things wrong” often stops them from doing so and that current guidance for employers is often too long and inaccessible.

The report now calls on government, local authorities, businesses, and employability services to work together to reduce the disability employment gap. This will require changes to be made across the different sectors to help prepare all young people for work, as well as finding work and staying in employment.

The Committee also asks that the Scottish Government provides an update on progress around its fair work resource for employers, which should address employers’ concerns and be easily accessible.

Claire Baker MSP, Convener of the Economy and Fair Work Committee, said: “Progress has been made in reducing the disability employment gap, but this is at risk of stalling unless the Scottish Government focuses on the needs of people with learning disabilities and neurodiverse people. They are the furthest from the workplace and supporting them into employment is crucial if the gap is to be halved by 2038.

“Today we have shone a light on the barriers that disabled people face in actively looking for employment. By hearing directly from people with lived experience, our inquiry has made it clearer what actions needs to be taken, and by whom, to help more people into fulfilling, long-term work.

“We know that in some workplaces everyone, regardless of their background, is able to get and keep a job. But disabled people everywhere who are actively looking for employment should have an equitable experience.

“Policymakers, together with public, private and third sectors, can all help by working together across the sectors. This starts at school, by building confidence, resilience, aspiration in all young people, with support on transitioning to adulthood and entering further education or work. If disabled people want to work, they should be offered support to both find and sustain it.

“The Committee is concerned that unless we see action on our recommendations, the target will not be met.” 

Other findings and recommendations include:

• Applications for the UK Government’s Access to Work scheme, which provides funding for reasonable adjustments and specialist equipment to assist disabled people in the workplace, can take a long time and the funding cap can be too restrictive. Witnesses also said that the current scheme is not particularly helpful to self-employed or freelance workers. The Committee asks the UK Government whether it plans to review the scheme to address these concerns.
• The 2024-25 budget contained a 24.2% cut to employability services. Additionally, the Committee heard there can be delays in employability services receiving funding, and only receiving funding on an annual basis, which makes planning and employing properly qualified staff to provide services more challenging. Given the clear link between the work of employability services and the ambition to halve the disability employment gap by 2038, the Committee asks the Scottish Government to outline how it will provide long-term funding certainty to these services.
• Disabled and neurodiverse young people often do not receive the correct support in transitioning to adulthood. The Committee heard that teaching staff and careers advisors are overburdened and are sometimes not given proper training to best assist disabled and neurodiverse young people. The Committee asks that training for teachers and careers advisors be included in the Scottish Government’s upcoming National Transitions to adulthood strategy, and that the Scottish Government considers the provision of transition coordinators in schools to provide better support.