SMEs and the labour inclusion of people with disabilities

Jun 20, 2024News

Across the European Union, people with disabilities still face huge barriers in employment. The most recent European-level data from 2019 reveal a significant disparity: the employment rate for people with disabilities stands at 50.8 percent, while for people without disabilities it reaches 75 percent. This translates into a difference of as much as 24.4 percentage points, highlighting a still open challenge for inclusion and equal opportunities in the labor market.

These and other crucial data will be explored in depth in the Brochure “People with Disabilities in the Labor Market: insertion, inclusion and sustainable employment in SMEs,” one of the main outcomes of Be Inclusive. This initiative aims to promote labor inclusion in small and medium-sized enterprises by offering concrete tools to support the professional inclusion and growth of people with disabilities.

During the project partners’ meeting, held in Vienna on June 11 and 12, experts from different European countries shared reflections and results of their national research. The discussion highlighted existing best practices and remaining challenges to ensuring equitable access to employment.

Once completed, the Brochure will become a key resource for raising awareness among employers and institutions, providing practical guidelines and insights for more inclusive employment. But the work will not stop there: the project partners will engage in the production of a series of videos dedicated to the topic of employment and disability, as well as the creation of microlearning modules designed specifically for SMEs. These digital tools will provide training and support to companies to further the employment integration process of people with disabilities, helping to create more inclusive and sustainable work environments.

Equal access to work is a fundamental right, and initiatives such as Be Inclusive represent a concrete step toward a more just and inclusive society in which the talents and skills of every individual can be fully valued.

For further information read about the project or contact Katarina Vuksan: katarina.vuksan@danilodolci.org.

Be Inclusive! – How Inclusion of people with disabilities works in SMEs – learning resources for job placement and employment is a project funded by the ERASMUS+KA Programme: Cooperation between organisations and institutions which aims to develop and support approaches on how to improve the participation of people with disabilities in working life.

Partners

For further information read about the project or contact Katarina Vuksan: katarina.vuksan@danilodolci.org.