Unemployment and visual impairment

High levels of unemployment remains a significant problem in Wales, which has lasting consequences for all concerned.  In tackling the issue specific groups have often been targeted, notably young people, and given extra support to help them find work, gain work experience, and participate in work placements.  Such moves to help people find work in what is a very difficult economic landscape are important.

Evidence also shows that a further group of people who are in need of extra support in times of difficulty are those with a visual impairment.  An analysis of the Labour Force Survey by the DWP revealed disparities in the employment rate of different groups.  Working age people with difficulty seeing had a much lower employment rate (37.1%) according to this analysis, in comparison to those with other disabilities (46.1%), and non-disabled people (76.2%). This would suggest that those with a visual impairment may face particular difficulties in accessing work, and so require targeted support in order to help them.  This is particularly needed at a time when the UK Government is trying to get more people off benefits and into work.

Table 1:  Employment rate across different groups (UK level, 2011)

Source: DWP

The DWP analysis of the labour force survey also showed that those with a visual impairment are less likely to be degree qualified, and more likely to have no qualifications, than those who are not disabled.  This might suggest that improving access to education might be one approach taken to helping those with a visual impairment access work.  However, other evidence suggests that those with a visual impairment who are degree qualified still only have the same chance of gaining employment as those with no qualifications who do not have a visual impairment.  Therefore, whilst improving access to education is always going to be part of an approach, there needs to be attention given to why those with a visual impairment may find it more difficult accessing work.  This should involve a greater focus on employers – in particular tackling employers’ attitudes and awareness of the Access to Work programme.