Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities US Business Leadership Network 12th Annual Conference Connecting the Dots: Business Solutions September 15-18, 2009 Careers & Community for People with Disabilities

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities Introductions –Thomas Capato CEO, GettingHired.com –Neil Jacobson CEO, Abilicorp

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities The employment participation gap Employment participation rates –General population: 59.8% –People with disabilities: 19.5% »(Source: July 2009 Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities The environment faced by employers –Short term challenges. –The longer term and the need to stay competitive for the future General shortages as baby boomers retire Critical shortages in skilled areas

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities The environment faced by employers –Uncertainty about how to deal with employees with disabilities and resources available to help –Uncertainty about what they are required to do under the law

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities Bottom line: People with disabilities comprise only 3.7% of US workforce, in comparison to 11.5% of the general population. »(Source: July 2009 Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities ODEPs November 2008 Survey of Employer Perspectives on the Employment of People with Disabilities –Design of Survey

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities ODEPs November 2008 Survey of Employer Perspectives on the Employment of People with Disabilities –Issues examined Recruiting Hiring Advancement Retention Knowledge of Resources Available

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities ODEPs November 2008 Survey of Employer Perspectives on the Employment of People with Disabilities –Employer Challenges and Concerns –Strategies

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities Hiring Challenge: The belief that the nature of the work was such that it could not be effectively performed by a person with a disability. Hiring Concern: The belief that workers with disabilities lack the necessary skills and experience.

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities –Solution: Identify the necessary qualifications for the job in the job description. Identify the skills and experience of the applicant in the job seekers profile. Provide a technology that effectively identifies matches between the two. –RightMatch

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities –Solution: Provide a resource to job seekers to assess hard skills and identify training needs. –Abilicorp –Goodwill Industries –Easter Seals

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities Hiring Challenge: Not knowing how much workplace accommodations would cost. Hiring Concern: The perception that it costs more to employ workers with disabilities.

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities –Solution: Provide an easy to use directory of service providers that employers can search to find answers and advice on workplace accommodations products, services and costs. –GettingHired.com –Job Accommodation Network –National Resource Directory –Employer Assistance & Resource Network (EARN)

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities Hiring Challenge: The inability to find qualified workers with disabilities.

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities –Hiring Strategy: Using a specialized recruiting source GettingHired.com AbilityLinks.org Accessible Employment COSD Disaboom

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities Retention Challenge: Lack of advancement potential.

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities –Retention and Advancement Strategy: Mentoring. Abilicorp AAPD, Disability Mentoring Day

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities The facts –Absenteeism –Cost of accommodations –Employee loyalty –Demographics of People with Disabilities seeking employment College educated Highly skilled Managerial experience

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities –A bit more about GettingHired.com and Abilicorp GettingHired.com – Careers & Community for People with Disabilities –Social Networking –Career Services Tools –Job Opportunities

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities –A bit more about GettingHired.com and Abilicorp Abilicorp, 4 pillars –Skills assessment and on-going training –Personal Advisors (Mentors) –Benefits Counseling –Assistive Technology assessment and procurement

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities –Questions?

Making Qualified Connections to Job Seekers with Disabilities –Thank You.