What was the employment-population ratio for people with disabilities?

• A. 63.5 percent
• B. 18.6 percent
• C. 40 percent
• D. 25 percent

Answer: (B)

The statistic tests how many people with disabilities are actually working relative to all people with disabilities. An employment-population ratio of 18.6 percent means about one in five individuals in this group are employed. This highlights a substantial gap in work participation compared with people without disabilities and shows how disability status interacts with social and economic factors to shape labor market outcomes.

It's helpful to keep in mind what this measure represents: it is not the unemployment rate, which only counts those without work who are actively seeking a job and who are in the labor force. The employment-population ratio includes everyone in the population with disabilities, whether they are employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force at all. The low figure reflects barriers such as discrimination, limited accessible job opportunities, the need for accommodations, transportation challenges, and health-related work limitations, all of which can reduce the likelihood of employment for this group.