East Hanover, NJ – March 6, 2026 – The latest National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report for March 2026 reveals a subtle yet significant shift in the employment landscape for working-aged Americans with disabilities. Drawing on newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics alongside custom nTIDE analyses, this report highlights a short-term decline in several key labor market indicators for people with disabilities, unfolding against a backdrop of geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty due to ongoing military actions in Iran.
The month-to-month assessment, focused on changes between January and February 2026, indicates that the employment-to-population ratio for individuals with disabilities aged 16 to 64 edged downward from 38.4 percent to 38.1 percent. Although this appears modest—a 0.3 percentage point drop representing approximately a 0.8 percent relative decline—it disrupts a prior upward trend observed over the preceding three months. In contrast, the employment-to-population ratio for those without disabilities remained steady at 74.5 percent during the same interval, underscoring the comparatively fragile recovery within the disability employment sector.
This key indicator, the employment-to-population ratio, expresses the proportion of individuals actively employed relative to the entire working-age population in that group. Its recent decline for people with disabilities challenges optimism that post-pandemic plateaus in employment might be overcome imminently. The resilience of employment levels among individuals without disabilities, by comparison, hints at ongoing systemic barriers uniquely impacting people with disabilities during economic fluctuations.
Complementing this data, the labor force participation rate—measuring the percentage of the population either working or actively engaged in job-seeking within the past four weeks—also exhibited a downturn for people with disabilities, slipping from 42.0 percent in January 2026 to 41.8 percent in February 2026. For those without disabilities, participation slightly increased during the same timeframe from 78.0 to 78.1 percent. This divergence is especially notable given historical patterns where economic stress typically drives higher workforce engagement among people with disabilities, who often face greater financial vulnerability.
John O’Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation, contextualized these findings by noting their timing alongside international developments. The ongoing bombing campaign in Iran is expected to precipitate broader economic repercussions, potentially causing temporary layoffs and reduced hiring that disproportionately affect marginalized groups, including those with disabilities. This factor may partly explain the observed stalling and minor contraction in employment figures within this cohort.
Moreover, Andrew Houtenville, PhD, economics professor and director at the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability, emphasized that fluctuations in the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities often correlate to broader economic pressures. Historically, rising costs of living have compelled more individuals with disabilities to enter or remain in the workforce, despite existing barriers, as a means of securing essential resources. The recent data indicating a downturn could signal emerging challenges distinct from prior economic cycles or reflect early impacts of geopolitical instability.
Comparing year-over-year figures from February 2025 to February 2026 provides a longer-term perspective, revealing encouraging growth in both employment and labor force participation among people with disabilities. The employment-to-population ratio advanced from 37.1 percent to 38.1 percent—a one percentage point increase representing a 2.7 percent relative rise. Correspondingly, the labor force participation rate improved from 40.8 percent to 41.8 percent, indicating an upward trajectory sustained over the past 12 months despite recent monthly setbacks.
Among people without disabilities, increases in these measures were more modest during the same yearly period: employment-to-population grew from 74.4 percent to 74.5 percent, and participation increased from 77.8 percent to 78.1 percent. This broader context highlights the continuing, albeit gradual, narrowing of employment gaps between people with and without disabilities, a persistent goal of disability inclusion efforts nationwide.
Within the U.S. workforce for February 2026, people with disabilities accounted for roughly 6.59 million workers aged 16 to 64, representing 4.4 percent of the total labor pool of 150.45 million. These figures reflect not only demographic realities but also underscore the critical importance of nuanced, targeted policy and programmatic interventions to enhance employment opportunities for this population.
To foster informed discourse on these developments, the nTIDE team hosts monthly Lunch & Learn webinars concurrent with report releases. These sessions offer a platform where experts, stakeholders, and community members can engage directly with researchers, discuss emerging trends, and explore implications for disability employment policy. For the March 6, 2026 event, dialogue featured thought leaders including Dr. Helen M. Genova, associate director of the Center for Autism Research at Kessler Foundation, alongside Drs. O’Neill, Houtenville, and public policy fellow Shoshana Marin.
The nTIDE reports are a collaborative initiative between Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability, rigorously analyzing Bureau of Labor Statistics data through a disability-focused lens. This partnership emphasizes customized data analytic methods designed to illuminate employment dynamics specific to working-age adults with disabilities. Funding support is provided by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and Kessler Foundation.
Kessler Foundation itself is a distinguished leader in rehabilitation research, committed to advancing the lives of people with disabilities via innovative scientific approaches. Its research portfolio encompasses mobility, cognitive function, and neurological rehabilitation, with an ongoing focus on employment and community integration. Through its work, Kessler Foundation supports the development of evidence-based strategies aimed at removing barriers and fostering economic participation among people with disabilities.
Collectively, these findings and initiatives underscore the complex interplay of social, economic, and geopolitical factors influencing labor market outcomes for people with disabilities. They reveal both progress achieved and obstacles remaining in the quest for inclusive employment, highlighting the urgency for continued research, policy innovation, and public engagement to ensure equitable workforce participation in times of both economic stability and upheaval.
Subject of Research: Employment trends and labor market indicators for working-age people with disabilities in the United States.
Article Title: Monthly Decline in Employment-to-Population Ratio for People with Disabilities Amidst Economic Uncertainty
News Publication Date: March 6, 2026
Web References:
– Kessler Foundation: https://kesslerfoundation.org/
– University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability: http://www.researchondisability.org/
– BLS Jobs Report: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
– nTIDE reports and archives: http://www.ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE
Image Credits: Kessler Foundation
Keywords: disability employment, labor market, employment-to-population ratio, labor force participation rate, nTIDE report, economic impact, military conflict, Iran bombing campaign, workforce inclusion, rehabilitation research, Kessler Foundation, University of New Hampshire
