Highlights from the fifth ASEE Breakfast Meeting
How is the European Union working to close the disability employment gap? At our fifth Breakfast Meeting, Monika Chaba, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), presented the EU Disability Employment Package and what it means for our field.
The challenge
The numbers show why this work matters. Across the EU, only 54% of people with disabilities are employed, a gap of 24 percentage points compared with the rest of the population. Around 40% are economically inactive, and those who do work are often in elementary occupations rather than professional roles. Young people and people with severe disabilities face the greatest barriers.
What the package offers
The Disability Employment Package is a flagship initiative of the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, developed with the Disability Platform and the network of public employment services. It covers the whole journey, from recruitment and career guidance to hiring, retention and return to work. Its tools include:
- Toolkits for public employment services
- Career guidance notes from CEDEFOP, the EU’s vocational training agency
- A catalogue of over 40 inclusive employment practices from across Europe, including solutions for people with hearing impairments and for jobseekers with autism
- User-friendly guidance on reasonable accommodation, covering legal obligations, national support and costs. The average cost is around 500 euros
- Guidance on health and safety at work, including a manual for employers and campaigns on musculoskeletal injuries and burnout
A spotlight on Supported Employment
Of particular interest to our members, the Commission is also looking at alternative employment models, including sheltered workshops, work integration social enterprises and supported employment. Monika noted that supported employment is still widely misunderstood and often confused with sheltered employment. To change that, new EU Guidelines on Supported Employment will be developed as part of the package, with ASEE contributing. The target is to present them at events in Liverpool, and research on cost-benefit analysis is under way with the OECD.
Questions from the floor
Participants asked about data, lifelong learning and the practical side of reasonable accommodation. Monika explained that reasonable accommodation is a legal requirement under the Employment Equality Directive of 2000, although implementation differs between Member States. On data, the EU is moving from the EU-SILC survey to the Labour Force Survey for more reliable statistics. Rural transport and including people with disabilities in mainstream education and training were also identified as ongoing challenges.