Disproportionately large number of disabled people unemployed, says expert

An expert in employment law has claimed there are a disproportionately large number of disabled people missing out on career development opportunities.

Karen Jackson, solicitor and managing partner at didlaw, said that employers simply don't want to manage people with ill health and disabilities.

"The entire thrust of the disability discrimination legislation is that it aims to redress the balance between disabled and non-disabled people in employment and eliminate the disadvantages suffered by the disabled. In practice however, the legislation is not working," she added.

Ms Jackson went on to say that the new section of the Equality Act, which will make it unlawful for employers to ask age-related questions during an interview, does not go far enough to boost career development opportunities.

"Once a job offer is made, employers can ask health questions and although in theory they cannot lawfully retract the offer, in practice they do," the expert concluded.

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