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Can people with disabilities gain from education? Similarities and differences between occupational attainment among persons with and without disabilities

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Boman, Tomas; | Kjellberg, Anders | Danermark, Berth | Boman, Eva

Affiliations: Department of Social Work and Psychology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden | Department of Building, Energy and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Sustainable Development, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden | Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

Note: [] Corresponding author: Tomas Boman, Department of Social Work and Psychology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, SE-801 76 Gävle, Sweden. Tel.: +46 26 648219; E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords: Discrimination, occupationalattainment, education level, self-estimated work ability

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-131718

Journal: Work, vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 193-204, 2014

Received 2 November 2012
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Accepted 6 April 2013
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Published: 2014
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: More knowledge is needed ofoccupational attainment of persons with disabilities, i.e. the relationship between their educational level and their profession, and factors of importance for this relationship.

OBJECTIVE: To compare occupational attainment among persons with and without a disability.

METHOD: 3396 informants with disabilities and 19 004 non-disabled informants participated (control group) in a survey study by Statistics Sweden.The informants with disabilities were divided into six groups.

RESULTS: Occupational attainment did not differ between the disability groups, neither between persons with and without a disability. Follow-up analysis showed that men with disabilities with primary or secondary school had an occupation above their educational level to a significantlylarger extent than women with disabilities. This pattern was even clearer in comparison with the control group. Persons without disabilities, with secondary or higher education, were more successful in the labor market than persons with disabilities. Occupational attainment increased with age in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Young women with disabilities who only have primary or secondary education run a higher risk of having a job that is below their educational level than men at the same educational level. This indicates discriminating mechanisms in the society related to gender and ability.

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