Why hiring PwD can benefit your business

In the working-age population, the disability unemployment rate is double that of people who do not have a disability. Unfortunately, the disability unemployment rate hasn't changed in 28 years. People with a disability can play a pivotal role in helping to address Australia's workforce shortage.

Hiring people with a disability is not only a matter of social responsibility. It benefits businesses in multiple ways. Many people with a disability have valuable skills and experiences to offer, and when given the opportunity, they can make significant contributions to the workforce. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of hiring people with a disability and how it can benefit your organisation.

ID: Five cartoon figures with a disability stand beside each other, smiling.

Diverse Workforce

Building a diverse workforce is essential for any organisation looking to remain competitive in today's global marketplace. By hiring people with a disability, you can ensure that your workforce reflects the diversity of the customers and communities you serve. This can help you better understand the needs and perspectives of your customers and develop products and services that meet their unique requirements.

Having a diverse workforce can also lead to increased creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities. When you bring together individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, you create a more dynamic and innovative team. This can lead to new ideas, approaches, and solutions that may not have been possible with a less diverse workforce.

Filling Skill Gaps

Hiring people with a disability is not just about promoting diversity and inclusion. It can also help organisations fill skill gaps and gain access to specialised talent that is often overlooked in the job market and may be hard to find elsewhere. Many people with a disability have unique skills and experiences that can be valuable to organisations across a range of industries. This can help organisations remain competitive and stay ahead of industry trends.

Improved Employee Retention

“Motivation, loyalty and perseverance were some of the characteristics of employees with a disability,” said Amanda Calwell, General Manager of Wollongong employment agency. “Having got a job, they want to maintain it probably more than any other job seeker because it probably took them three times as much effort to get there.”

Moreover, when organisations create a supportive and inclusive workplace environment, they can benefit from a more engaged and committed workforce. Employees who feel valued and respected by their employer are more likely to be motivated and committed to their work, which in turn can lead to improved productivity and lower turnover rates. 

By demonstrating a commitment to diversity and inclusion, organisations can attract a wider range of customers and partners who share their values. This can lead to increased brand recognition and loyalty, further boosting employee morale and employee retention rates.

Access to New Customer Markets

According to the World Health Organisation, there are over 1 billion people in the world who live with some form of disability. This is a significant portion of the global population and represents a largely untapped market for many businesses.

By tapping into this vast pool of talent and employing people with a disability, your business can show that it values diversity and inclusivity. This can help build brand loyalty and increase your customer base.

Hiring people with a disability can also help organisations better understand the needs and preferences of customers who may be in similar situations. People with a disability have firsthand experience navigating the challenges and barriers that can come with physical or cognitive limitations, and this unique perspective can be valuable in developing products and services that are accessible, user-friendly, and meet the needs of a broader audience.

Positive Impact on Workplace Culture

By hiring people with a disability, you can create a more inclusive and accepting workplace culture. This can improve morale, increase productivity, and better employee engagement. Additionally, it can help improve the public perception of your organisation, leading to increased brand recognition and reputation.

In Summary

One in five Australians has a disability and disability unemployment rate is high. Many are able to work, want to work and simply need to be given a chance to show what they can do. By creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, filling skill gaps, improving employee retention, accessing new customer markets, and positively impacting workplace culture, you can build a more successful and sustainable organisation.

https://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/toolaction/employmentfs.pdf