East Hanover, NJ – May 2, 2025 – The latest iteration of the National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report, a collaborative project spearheaded by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability, offers a detailed, data-driven analysis of the current state of employment among individuals with disabilities in the United States. This report harnesses data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly jobs report, providing a nuanced perspective on the evolving dynamics of labor market participation, employment ratios, and economic influences affecting a population historically marginalized in workforce discussions.
The nTIDE report’s Month-to-Month analysis, comparing March 2025 with April 2025, reveals a marginal decrease in the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities aged 16 to 64—from 37.5 percent to 37.4 percent—signifying a subtle contraction of 0.1 percentage points. Contrastingly, individuals without disabilities witnessed a modest increase in their employment-to-population ratio, rising from 74.8 percent to 75.1 percent, marking a 0.3 percentage point gain. These fluctuations, while numerically minor, underscore differential responses in labor market engagement between disabled and non-disabled populations, reflecting underlying economic currents and employer behaviors.
The employment-to-population ratio is a critical macroeconomic indicator reflecting the proportion of individuals actively working within a defined population age range. Its sensitivity to economic cycles and labor market conditions renders it an essential metric for understanding employment accessibility and inclusivity among distinct demographic groups. The data suggests that stability in employment ratios amidst broader economic uncertainty may signal a buffering effect or a lag in response to external pressures such as tariff impacts and global trade tensions.
An equally pivotal metric, the labor force participation rate, which encompasses those actively employed plus individuals actively seeking work, experienced a slight uptick for people with disabilities, rising from 40.9 percent to 41 percent between March and April 2025. Meanwhile, the participation rate for those without disabilities dipped marginally from 78 percent to 77.9 percent. This differential trend implies nuanced behavioral shifts within these cohorts, potentially reflective of adaptive strategies by workers with disabilities or changes in employer recruitment patterns.
Economic experts associated with the nTIDE report offer interpretative insights into these tentative movements. John O’Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation, posits that employers may be accelerating procurement and production efforts in anticipation of increased tariffs. This defensive positioning could stabilize employment figures temporarily, thereby delaying potential downturns in labor market participation. Such dynamics emphasize the importance of examining microeconomic behaviors within the broader macroeconomic framework.
Further elucidation is provided by Andrew Houtenville, PhD, professor of economics and director of the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Houtenville highlights the conceptual framework of labor market indicators functioning as "lag indicators,” where shifts in employment and participation tend to trail behind real-time economic growth metrics like Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This temporal decoupling suggests that the observed data may not yet fully capture the repercussions of the slowing economy and tariff uncertainties, which may manifest in future job market contractions or expansion.
Year-over-year comparisons expose more pronounced trends. The employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities decreased from 37.9 percent in April 2024 to 37.4 percent in April 2025, a decline of 0.5 percentage points or approximately 1.3 percent. Notably, the ratio for people without disabilities remained flat at 75.1 percent during the same period. These data points illustrate a gradual erosion of employment rates for people with disabilities over the span of twelve months, underscoring persistent systemic challenges despite incremental progress.
Conversely, the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities rose from 40.6 percent in April 2024 to 41 percent in April 2025, while a slight increase was also observed for people without disabilities, moving from 77.8 percent to 77.9 percent. These statistics highlight a paradox wherein participation in the labor market is increasing despite a concomitant decrease in actual employment, pointing toward a potential rise in active job-seeking behavior amid constrained hiring opportunities.
The current workforce composition includes approximately 6.29 million workers with disabilities aged 16 to 64, representing 4.1 percent of the total employed U.S. labor force of around 152.7 million individuals. This quantification not only affirms the representational scale of workers with disabilities but also underscores the criticality of tailored policy and programmatic measures to enhance equitable employment outcomes within a competitive labor market environment.
Each monthly nTIDE release is accompanied by a Lunch & Learn webinar, disseminated via a live Zoom broadcast, designed to foster stakeholder engagement through real-time Q&A sessions. These forums provide crucial opportunities for dialogue, dissemination of research findings, and collaborative dialogue among employment experts, advocates, and policymakers. The May 2, 2025 session features guest presenter Katherine Neas from The Arc, alongside Drs. John O’Neill, Debra Brucker, and Denise Rozell from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), emphasizing multidisciplinary perspectives on disability employment.
The nTIDE project operates under funding from both the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and Kessler Foundation. Through methodical customization of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, nTIDE offers gender-aggregated, working-age population statistics that differ from raw BLS datasets by refining scope and analytical focus to better illuminate the employment realities faced by people with disabilities.
Kessler Foundation, a nonprofit leader in rehabilitation research, is globally recognized for advancing knowledge in cognitive and physical recovery following neurological injury or disease. Their efforts extend into driving innovative employment programming aimed at expanding workforce participation for those with neurological and developmental disabilities. Complementing Kessler’s efforts, the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire continues its commitment to advancing policies and practices that promote quality of life and workforce inclusivity for disabled populations.
In summary, the May 2025 nTIDE report offers a granular look at employment trends indicating relative short-term stability amidst emerging economic challenges, yet it also signals persistent structural impediments for workers with disabilities. The interplay between employment ratios, labor participation, and macroeconomic factors illustrates a complex labor market landscape awaiting further evolution. Continued monitoring and responsive policy interventions remain paramount in fostering inclusivity and narrowing the employment gap for millions of Americans with disabilities.
The ongoing collection and synthesis of disability employment data remain vital to understanding labor market dynamics and informing initiatives aimed at equitable workforce integration. As the economy navigates uncertain terrain, the nTIDE report stands as an essential resource bridging rigorous statistical analysis with practical, policy-relevant insights, ensuring that the voices and experiences of workers with disabilities remain central to national economic discourse.
Subject of Research: Employment trends and labor market participation of people with disabilities compared to those without disabilities in the United States.
Article Title: National Trends in Disability Employment Signal Short-Term Stability Amid Economic Uncertainty
News Publication Date: May 2, 2025
Web References:
- https://www.kesslerfoundation.org/
- http://www.researchondisability.org/
- http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
- http://www.ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE
Image Credits: Credit: Kessler Foundation
Keywords: Unemployment, Scientific organizations, Population studies, Political science, Economics, Social studies of science, Social research
