Prospects for Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the Post-COVID-19 Era

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed the work landscape for employees with disabilities, leading to remote working, work-from-home, greater flexibility, and the increased use of digital technology. This resulted in substantial benefits for some workers with disabilities after the pandemic. The shift to digital and flexible work, however, was not accepted positively by all employers and exposed deep-seated inequalities and social exclusion. The pandemic widened the “digital divide,” and many people with disabilities experienced less accessibility to the necessary devices, connectivity, and digital skills compared to their non-disabled counterparts. In addition, workers with a disability were often concentrated in industries and occupations (e.g., cleaning services, food preparation) that were not conducive to remote work, limiting their ability to benefit from increased flexibility. This book compares the employment situation for people with disabilities in the UK and the US during and post pandemic and analyses the conditions in low-middle-income-countries (LMICs). It forecasts the future job market in the UK and the US and the potential of AI in employment of people with disabilities; AI could pose opportunities for future employment for people with disabilities but there would also be concerns over employers' prejudice and negative attitudes, and the availability of digital infrastructure and devices, particularly in low-middle-income countries.

Arie Rimmerman is Professor Emeritus and Richard Crossman Professor of Social Welfare and Social Planning. His research focuses on comparative disability policies, particularly in areas of employment, civic society, family support, and aging with disability.