Disabled Americans make up 20 percent of the US population making this diverse group the largest minority in the country. Disabled people across all ages, ethnicities, races, and genders bring their skills and talents to every level of our nation’s workforce every day.  

However, many more companies should be doing more to increase the number of disabled people they employ. According to the US Department of Labor, 7.9% of Disabled Americans are unemployed compared to the 3.5% unemployment rate in September 2022 in the general population.  

Companies should not be concerned about the need for accommodations if they hire a disabled person. According to a survey conducted by Job Accommodation Network, 56% of accommodations cost absolutely nothing to implement, while the rest of the accommodations made cost only $500.  

Besides increased diversity let’s look at some other benefits of hiring disabled people.  

1. Higher Retention Rates  

Disabled people tend to seek stable and reliable work and therefore are more likely to stay longer with a company once they find the right fit. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employers who have embraced disability as a component of their talent strategy reported a 90 percent increase in employee retention.   

2. Tax Incentives 

A Work Opportunity Tax Credit is a tax credit based on the number of hours worked by a disabled employee.  For a company hiring people with disabilities, this credit can be worth as much as $9,600 per employee hired. 

3. Better Bottom Lines 

According to a 2018 study by Accenture, done in partnership with the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability: IN, companies that hired Americans with disabilities outperformed those that didn’t. Their net income was at least two times higher, revenues 28 percent higher, and profit margins 30 percent higher. 

4. Insights into How to Serve Disabled Customers 

Having a diverse workforce with different perspectives, experiences and challenges can help gain a better insight into your customer’s viewpoints. Is your product or service assessable to all? A diverse workforce can help answer this question and ensure your producing the best product or service.  

With more than 25 years of being a nonprofit organization helping Americans with disabilities find at-home jobs, NTI has been a leader in hiring and promoting the benefits of inclusion in the workplace. We’ve certainly seen the changes over the years and how much the companies and government organizations we work with have benefited from hiring Americans with disabilities.  

If your company isn’t hiring Disabled Americans, there isn’t a better time to start than today! NTI can help. Email sales@nticentral.org if you are interested in learning more about how NTI can help increase your diversity.