The Work Foundation at Lancaster University responded to the employment of disabled people 2025 figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Ben Harrison, Director of the Work Foundation at Lancaster University commented on the disability employment gap:

“Today’s data indicates that the employment prospects for disabled people in the UK have stalled since 2019, with just over one in two in work (52.8%). Disabled people continue to face stark and significant disadvantages in the labour market, and the disability employment gap now stands at 29.7% compared to 28.8% in 2019.

“This presents substantial economic, financial and social challenges to every part of the UK. Nearly one in four of the working-age population are disabled (24%), and employers are missing out on accessing the talent and experience of millions of people, while disabled people who want to work are unable to access the benefits that employment offers.

“Halving the disability employment gap alone would see the Government reach its ambitious 80% employment target. But the recent lack of progress indicates that punitive policies that push disabled people into ‘any job’ are unlikely to be effective. Today’s figures suggest that for every disabled person moving into work, another in employment is leaving – in 2024, 420,000 workless disabled people moved into work while 420,000 disabled workers moved out of work.

“This underlines the importance of matching disabled people to the right kinds of job opportunities that can be sustainable for the long-term and providing extra support to disabled people to remain connected to the labour market if they need time away from work. And yet Work Foundation research shows that disabled people are already 1.5 times more likely to be in severely insecure jobs – experiencing low and uncertain pay and less rights and protections.

“Greater flexibility is a key enabler for disabled people to progress in their careers. Workers who face a health setback without any job flexibility are four times more likely to leave work, while those with low levels of control over working hours, pace, tasks, order and work manner are 3.7 times more likely to exit. However, many disabled people still contend with inflexible employers, and we need Government and employers to make access to secure and flexible work standard practice to get and keep Britain working.”

Aman Navani, Research and Policy Analyst, Work Foundation at Lancaster University commented on NEET young people and disability:

“One in eight young people aged 16-24 are currently not in education, employment or training, and this has increased since the pandemic. The levels of disabled NEET young people have changed dramatically over the last decade. Now nearly half of young people not in employment, education or training are classed as disabled (45.8%) – a rise of 24.3 percentage points since 2013/14.

“In order to address this worrying trend, policymakers must provide enhanced support to find work or training but recognise that additional health support – in particular mental health support – will be critical for young people to enter and remain in work. There is a risk that the more intensive support outlined in the Government’s Youth Guarantee will be needed much earlier than the proposed 18 months if those young people currently struggling outside the labour market are to access and thrive in work.”