Only One in Three Businesses Employs Disabled Workers
A first national State of the Nation report finds large untapped employment potential for Australians with disability.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Employment
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A landmark report found only one in three Australian businesses employs someone with disability. It estimates 890,000 unemployed people with disability could work with minor adjustments.
Why it matters
Employers are missing benefits that hiring people with disability could bring, and the report suggests matching employment rates would draw 637,000 more Australians into the workforce across the country.
The report found 890,000 unemployed people with disability could work with minor adjustments, and just over half of 2.7 million working-age Australians with disability are employed. It is unclear from the source which specific adjustments would be needed at scale.
The players
Tanya Plibersek
Tanya Plibersek is the Australian federal Social Services Minister who will receive the report.
Disability Employment Investments
Disability Employment Investments is a philanthropic organisation that commissioned the State of the Nation report.
The details
The report was commissioned by philanthropic organisation Disability Employment Investments and will be handed to Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek at the Sydney Opera House. More than half of surveyed people with disability said they struggled to find employers willing to hire them.
Timeline
Tuesday: report released and handed to the minister at the Sydney Opera House
The State of the Nation report is set to be updated annually
Economic Context
The report extends the national disability policy conversation from support services into labour-market participation under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It is positioned as the first State of the Nation report on disability employment in Australia.
Employers who hire people with disability may gain access to a larger pool of workers, and the report suggests many capable candidates are currently unemployed. Job seekers with disability who need workplace adjustments may find the findings relevant to their own search.
The takeaway
Adjustments that allow people with disability to work could expand Australia's workforce considerably. Employers who review their hiring practices may find an underused source of skilled labour.
What happens next
The State of the Nation report is set to be updated annually, with the next edition expected to track changes in disability employment.
Further reading
Explore more on Employment trends across Australia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cootamundra Herald.
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Would you consider hiring someone with disability in your business or workplace?
