Affiliations: Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Stratford, NJ, USA | Department of Behavioral Health Counseling, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Ni Gao, Ph.D., LCSW, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 40 East Laurel Road, Suite 2105, Stratford, NJ 08084, USA. Tel.: +1 856 566 2770; Fax: +1 856 566 6820; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Human Capital Theory posits that investment in education and job training increase employability among the general labor force. This study examined the applicability of Human Capital Theory to an explanation of employment outcomes of individuals with psychiatric illness. The employment rates of participants with mental illness and participants with equivalent human capital but not disability were compared. The study also explored whether human capital variables predicted employability. The study found that participants with mental illness achieved similar re-employment rates within six-months of becoming unemployed when compared to their counterparts with no reported disability. Additionally, later onset of mental illness predicted higher employment rates. Severity of psychiatric symptoms was not predictive of employment rates. These findings suggest that human capital variables are correlated with employment outcomes among persons with mental illness. They also suggest that assisting mental health consumers in the pursuit of education and job training may improve their employability which can lead to financial independence and community integration. The findings also support the development and implementation of Supported Education to assist consumers to succeed in education and job training.
Keywords: Mental illness, human capital theory, employment for individuals with disabilities
