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People with Disabilities in the Massachusetts Labor Force

A collection of data visualizations and analysis related to People with Disabilities in the Massachusetts Labor Force.

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Introduction

The People with Disabilities Equity Dashboard offers a comprehensive view of employment-related insights, encompassing disability type, geographic variations, remote work opportunities, unemployment rates, labor force participation, and more.

This dashboard is part of the Department of Economic Research's workforce Equity Dashboard project, which aggregates Massachusetts-centric employment statistics across diverse demographic, racial, ethnic, and other identifiers. In addition to offering a snapshot of workforce outcomes among various demographic groups and illuminating persistent workforce disparities, these data sets underscore the substantial contributions and diverse talents and needs of Massachusetts' communities. The dashboards also serve as a benchmark to gauge the Commonwealth's progress in advancing equitable career pathways across all sectors of its economy.

The People with Disabilities Equity Dashboard was crafted with input from the MassAbility (formerly the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission), the Massachusetts Office on Disability, and others, who all provided valuable insights into the employment landscape for individuals with disabilities.

It should be noted that much of the data utilized in these narratives and dashboards is derived from the American Community Survey, conducted by the United States Census Bureau. Consequently, the naming conventions describing various demographic groups closely mirrors the terminology used in the survey and does not necessarily align with the naming preferences of the Department of Economic Research or the groups who collaborated on its creation.

Analysis and Key Takeaways

Demographics

Massachusetts is home to approximately 450,000 working-age individuals with disabilities, representing roughly 10% of the state's working-age population. This number has steadily increased in recent years, mirroring national trends. Notably, this rise is partly attributed to a significant increase in young people reporting cognitive difficulties.

A line graph showing the proportion of people with disabilities in Massachusetts has increased since 2019.

Among individuals with disabilities, the most prevalent types are cognitive difficulties, independent living difficulties, and ambulatory difficulties. While women are disproportionately affected by disability, it's important to note that a substantial number of men are also living with disabilities.
Despite the significant population size, working-age individuals with disabilities face challenges in attaining higher education. Compared to individuals without disabilities, they are significantly less likely to hold a bachelor's degree. This disparity points to both historic and current inequities in access to educational opportunities, which contribute to the persistent gap in labor market outcomes.

Employment

Employment outcomes vary widely depending on the type of disability. For example, 60.6% of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing are employed, compared to just 17.8% of those with an ambulatory disability. This is in stark contrast to the 82.3% employment rate among the population without a disability. These variations in employment rates can be attributed to a range of factors, including differences in skills and education, as well as the ability to work and find employment opportunities that accommodate specific disabilities. The limited availability of such opportunities presents significant barriers for people with disabilities seeking employment.

The impact of these dynamics is evident in unemployment rates. Although unemployment rates across disability types have been declining since 2010, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected people with disabilities. Unemployment rates among certain disability types have increased significantly, even as rates for those without disabilities have returned to pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, those with self-care and independent living difficulty generally experience some of the highest unemployment rates, with recent rates reaching 25.5% and 20.6%, respectively. Those with cognitive and ambulatory difficulty also have difficulty in the labor market, with unemployment rates of 14.2% and 13.6%, respectively.
The share of people with a disability working part-time peaked in 2011 at 58.0% and then gradually decreased to 47% in 2024. In 2024, people with disabilities were about 50 percent more likely to work part-time compared to those without a disability. This could be attributed to various factors, including the flexibility part-time work offers, and the fact that individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can work part-time and still receive their monthly payments. A full report on the disability benefit cliff effect in Massachusetts is available from DER.
Note: Part-time employment encompasses individuals who worked fewer than 50 weeks during the year, which includes not only those typically working part-time hours but also individuals who experienced any breaks in employment over the course of the year.

Infographic showing the labor force participation rate among people with disabilities increasing since 2019.

Despite the challenges faced by people with disabilities in the labor market, there are some positive trends. The majority of disability types have seen labor force participation rates increase from 2019 to 2024, reflecting reduced barriers to employment brought about by remote work. This shift has expanded employment opportunities for people with disabilities, enabling them to participate more fully in the labor market.

Geography

Nearly every city and town in the Commonwealth is home to working aged people with a disability. The five cities with the largest working-age populations of individuals with disabilities are Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Fall River, and Lowell, collectively accounting for more than 100,000 working aged people with a disability, or almost a quarter of the total working-age population with disabilities.

A map of Massachusetts highlighting the areas of the State that are a home to people with disabilities.

Despite this widespread presence, there is significant variation in labor market outcomes across communities. For instance, the average unemployment rate for people with disabilities ranged from 11% in Fall River to 18% in Springfield. Regionally, individuals with disabilities experienced the highest unemployment rates in Berkshire, Hampden, and Suffolk counties, while the lowest unemployment rates were observed in the Barnstable, Hampshire, and Middlesex counties. These differences suggest local factors play an important role in creating the conditions for employment among people with disabilities.
These disparities in labor market outcomes point to structural inequities that have contributed to differences in employment opportunities for people with disabilities across the state. Factors such as access to education, transportation, healthcare, support services, and the presence of accessible employment opportunities play a role in shaping these regional differences.

Industry and Occupation

People with disabilities in Massachusetts are employed in a wide range of occupations, but they are more likely to concentrate in certain sectors. The top three occupational sectors for people with disabilities in the state are office and administrative support, sales and related occupations, and management, accounting for over 30% of all employment among this population.
However, people with disabilities are underrepresented in some high-paying occupations, such as business and financial, and computer and mathematical occupations, suggesting potential barriers to entry and success in these fields. These barriers are reflected in lower median annual earnings for people with disabilities compared to those without disabilities in most occupations. For example, the median annual earnings for people with disabilities in office and administrative support occupations are $42,600, compared to $48,000 for people without disabilities.

Stacked bar charts showing that over half of employed people with disabilities work in six occupations, and that there are significant wage gaps between those with a disability and those without that persist across all major occupation groups.

Furthermore, people with disabilities are more likely to be employed in physically demanding occupations and industries characterized by high turnover rates. For instance, they are more likely to be employed in transportation and material moving and food preparation occupations compared to those without disabilities.
The top three industries for people with disabilities in Massachusetts are health care and social assistance, retail trade, and education services, which together account for over 40% of all employment among this population. However, people with disabilities are disproportionately employed in industries characterized by lower wages and higher turnover rates, such as the accommodation and food services industry.

Income and Poverty

The median earnings for people with disabilities in Massachusetts have shown a positive trend, increasing steadily from $20,800 in 2010 to $35,900 in 2024. However, it is important to note that the median earnings for this group are still significantly lower than those for people without disabilities. The gap between the median earnings for people with and without disabilities in Massachusetts is wider than the national gap, suggesting that people with disabilities in the state may face additional challenges in finding employment and earning a living wage in the Commonwealth.

Bar charts showing the salary gap for people with disabilities is larger in Massachusetts than it is nationally.

While many factors contribute to these trends, one key factor is that people with disabilities are more likely to work part-time. As data in the employment status tab shows, among employed workers, 47% of those reporting a disability worked part-time compared to 30.7% of workers without a disability. As a result, those who work part time will have lower earnings than those who work full-time.
Additionally, working-aged people with disabilities are three times more likely to live in poverty than those without disabilities. This highlights the significant economic challenges faced by this population in Massachusetts.

Remote Work

A significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was the normalization of remote work. The shift towards remote work has been a boon for individuals with disabilities, removing traditional barriers to entry such as transportation and physical accessibility of workplaces. Between 2019 and 2024, the share of people with disabilities working from home more than tripled.
This shift has benefited workers in occupations conducive to working from home, while opening up new opportunities for others. Most people with disabilities work in business and financial, management, and office and admin support occupations.
Yet, despite the added benefits working from home offers people with disabilities, they are less likely than those without disabilities to work from home. This can be attributed to several factors, such as the alignment between education and work experience with remote work occupations, as well as broadband access. In 2024, just 62% of working age people with a disability had broadband access, compared to 81% of those without a disability.

People with Disabilities Equity Dashboard

Navigation: The dashboard is structured into seven sections, or tabs, for each area of analysis. You can navigate these sections by clicking the tabs along the top of the dashboard or by using the arrows on either side of the section title.
Data Insights: Within each tab are a collection of graphs and insights, containing detailed information and elevating key insights from the relevant data. Refer to the titles, subtitles, and dropdown menus to explore different metrics.
Interactivity: In addition to the dropdown options, hover over elements of the charts and graphs to see additional details and clarifications on the data.
Concepts & Data: Visit the Concepts tab for additional context, definitions, and links to the source data. For detailed source information and data download, see Definitions and Methodology.

Disability Types

As this data is largely dependent on the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), the disability types are based on the U.S. Census definitions of hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living. See Definitions and Methodology for more information.

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Definitions and Methodology

Disability Types

As this data is largely dependent on the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), the disability types are based on the U.S. Census definitions of hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living.

The ACS survey asks respondents six questions to self-identify as having a disability.

The following questions serve as the basis for the Census disability type categories:

Hearing: Is this person deaf or does he/she have serious difficulty hearing?
Vision: Is this person blind or does he/she have serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses?
Cognitive: Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does this person have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
Ambulatory: Does this person have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs?
Self-Care: Does this person have difficulty dressing or bathing?
Independent Living: Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, does this person have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?

Based on the survey questions regarding disability type, a respondent with disabilities may indicate one or more disabilities, such as hearing and cognitive-related ones. As a result, the total counts for each disability can exceed the total number of people with disabilities since an individual may report multiple disabilities. It's important to remember this when examining charts with a disability type breakdown. For instance, the unemployment rate calculation for those with a vision disability might include respondents who solely have the specified disability, as well as those with additional disabilities not explicitly mentioned.

Population Age Groups

When conducting labor market analysis of people with disabilities, DER follows the U.S. Census convention of limiting the analysis to working-age adults between 18-64 years old. There are two main reasons for this:

People aged 65 and over make up a proportionately high percentage of people with disabilities. For example, a 2022 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that approximately 50% of the total population with disabilities were over the age of 65, compared to about 18% of those without disabilities.
Those 65 and older have much lower labor force participation rates (LFPR) largely due to retirement. The BLS Report showed that that the LFPR for the general population aged 65-74 was 26.6% in 2022, compared to 8.1% for the population with disabilities.

In summary, people aged 65 and over make up a high percentage of those with disabilities but have a very low engagement with the labor force. Limiting the analysis to working-age adults between 18-64 years old allows for a more accurate representation of the employment circumstances for people with disabilities. This context is important to understand when interpreting labor market statistics and ratio for this population.

Race/Ethnicity

Data on populations grouped by race are based on people who identify as a single race and includes people who identify as Hispanic or Latino, except for the white population which only include people who identify as white alone and not Hispanic or Latino.

Data on Hispanic and Latino populations include people who identify as any race.

Difference Between Census ACS 1-Year Estimates and 5-Year Estimates

Graphs/charts based on Census ACS data may rely on either 1-year or 5-year estimates.

1-year estimates provide a point-in-time estimate for the population. Yet, because the same size is smaller, there are limitations in using 1-year estimates to calculate statistics for small geographies and sub-populations.
5-year estimates have larger samples that are collected over the 5-year period and are useful for detailed data and can be interpreted as a 5-year average. The advantage offered by the 5-year estimate is that it can be used to calculate statistics for small geographies and sub-populations like the number of Black workers by occupation or industry.

Users should be cautious when comparing data from 5-year estimates to 1-year estimates and consider that 1-year estimates represent a point-in-time while 5-year estimates represent a 5-year average. For more information, view "Understanding and Using ACS Single-Year and Multiyear Estimates."

Data Reference and Download

Download the data sets used in the above resources by clicking the file under 'Additional Resources" below.

Data Sources

Data on populations and labor force participants comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS). ACS summary tables and the ACS Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) are used to calculate statistics.

Note: Data source citations are listed at the bottom of each tab for reference. Census 2020 1-year ACS and PUMS is unavailable due to the pandemic.