Disabled employment gap inquiry

Overview

Identifying barriers to accessing employment is a key part of the Economy and Fair Work Committee’s remit

Statistics show that the disabled people in Scotland have a lower employment rate than non-disabled people.

The Committee would like to understand what more can be done to ensure disabled people can access employment.

Committee inquiry

The Committee has agreed to hold an inquiry that will look at how we can identify and address barriers that limit the ability of disabled people to get and keep a job.

Remit

The Committee is therefore seeking views on the following issues: 

• what progress has been made to reduce and remove barriers faced by disabled people to access Scotland’s labour market?
• what are the remaining challenges, and why has progress been difficult?
• what policy measures would you like to see to support disabled people and employers to increase participation rates?
• what has been the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on disabled people’s experience of the labour market?

How to submit your views

Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked to below.

There is also an easy read form of the call for views (editable pdf file).

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language.

Access a BSL version of this consulation

The Committee has identified an early gap in its 2023 programme. This is an opportunity for the Committee to do some initial work in this subject area, before hearing from the relevant Scottish Government Minister in early February.

All views are welcome. Any views provided by the end of January will be made available for that evidence session with the Minister.

However, it is appreciated this is a tight timescale. The Committee will come back to the topic later in the year and all views provided after January will still be considered.

The call for views closes on 16 February 2023.