1. Economic activity of persons with disabilities in the light of 2011 population census
Grażyna Dehnel
Elżbieta Gołata

2. Outline of the presentation
Introduction - formulating the problems
Disability in the 2011 population census - comparison and information scope
Compliance of data on disability from different sources and its stability during time
Estimation procedure based on algorithm used in demographic projections
Economic activity of people with disabilities
Analysis of economic activity based on previous census – by age and sex
Analysis of economic activity based on Labour Force Survey data – time series data
Estimates of economic activity of disabled, 2011 Census
Compatibility of the estimates with data from additional sources
Conclusion

3. Introduction - formulating the problem
The aim of the study – to analyse economic activity od people with disabilities and discuss its differentiation according to main demographic characteristics: age and sex
using available data from 2011 census.
The questions are :
what is the definition of disabled population – an open unanswered question
whether we can conduct the analysis using available data in view of their incomparability according to the definitions what do we know about economic activity of disabled population
what is the employment and unemployment of disabled
what is the differentiation according to age and sex
whether it is possible to compare economic activity of disabled population over time, taking into account two main categories: biological and legal disability
We want to determine the possibility of assessing the differences between regions, the results of which are necessary for the needs of the local community. In the future knowledge on disability will be even more necessary in the work of local governments and social service organizations.

4. Introduction - formulating the problem
Disability is a concept whose meaning changes to reflect the changing perception of this phenomenon.
It is no longer understood only as a consequence of disease or injury.
At present it is usually perceived in terms of various barriers that a disabled person encounters in society.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines disability as:
“Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”
Most European countries define disability in terms of barriers encountered by disabled people in their daily lives. The degree of disability is usually determined in terms of the decline in functional ability (from 20% to 100%).
Each of us experience some obstacles in carrying out normal daily activities, especially at a time when we age.
Knowledge about disabled persons significantly depends on their subjective assessment of ability to perform activities of daily living.

5. This diversity refers to both definitions of disability:
Introduction - formulating the problem
Differentiation of definition of disability across countries and studies
This diversity refers to both definitions of disability:
Biological
Legal
People who experience functional limitations in activities of daily living that are typical for their age (playing, studying, work, self-care)
People whose physical, psychological or mental condition permanently or temporarily impairs, limits or prevents the performance of social roles, in particular when it limits their ability to perform their occupational duties
In Poland the legal definition of disability was established in 1997: according to the Act on Occupational and Social Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities (issued on , Dz. U. ([Journal of Laws] of 2011, No. 127, item 721, as amended). Until now several dozen amendments have been introduced into the Act – the last one in October 2015 – but the definition of a disabled person has remained unchanged.

6. Introduction - formulating the problem
We attempt to answer the question on the possibilities to carry out a comprehensive analysis of economic activity of people with disabilities in Poland on the basis of different available data sources including:
Labour Force Survey (LFS) legal definition
The European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) biological and legal definition
EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) biological definition
and first and foremost the population census biological and legal definitione
According to the data source and the accepted definition, the population of disabled in Poland can count from 5.3 million to 9 million people (CSO, EHIS, 2011).
The National Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities
The Government Plenipotentiary for Disabled People
Growth in information sources on disability.
However, the diversity in the definition of disability employed in research, legislation and eligibility determination is clearly evident not alone between countries, but also within countries.
This inconsistency serves to restrict the extent to which national data from different sources can truly be compared O’Donovan and Good (2010).

7. Disability - comparison and information scope, 2011 census
2011 census data present economic activity of disabled persons in Poland by :
categories of disability, sex and place of residence (rural-urban)
And provide information
by the main source of living, sex, place of residence and categories
No information was published on economic activity in the territorial division nor by age
Population
2002 census
2011 census
Disabled population
thousands
thousands
Economically active disabled
thousands
919.9 thousands
20%
Working persons with disability
804.6 thousands
employment ratio 15.3%
742.9 thousands
employment ratio 16.4%
16%
Unemployed persons with disability
206.4 thousands
unemployment rate 20.4%
177.0 thousands
unemployment rate 19.2% 4%
Not participating in economic activity
thousands
thousands
80%
Source:

8. Disability - comparison and information scope, 2011 census
Incomparability of data and concepts
Change in census methodology - mixed method: data were partly obtained from administrative sources (registers and information systems), partly collected directly from individual respondents in a sample survey.
Voluntary nature of questions on disability - over 1.3 million respondents refused to answer any questions in the category. It can be assumed that some of those who refused were disabled people. Economic age group: over 50% of women were in the working age group, for men this share exceeded 70%
Changing regulations - Introduction of stricter criteria of awarding disability and attendance benefits. More frequent decisions not to apply for benefit entitlements at the start of retirement.
Disability
2002 Census
2011 Census
Category
Population number
Percentage of the total population
Percentageof the total population
Total
14.27 %
12.22
Legally
11,64 %
8,13
Legally merely
4.25 %
1.24
Biologically
10.02 %
10.95
Biologically merely
2.63 %
4.07
Legally and Biologically
7.39 %
6.89

9. Disability - comparison and information scope, 2011 census

10. Legally disabled population in Poland
Compliance of data on disability from different sources
Legally disabled population in Poland
Census 2011
3131.0
LF 2009
3341.3
LF 2011
3505.5
EHIS 2009
3801.5
Unfortunately, possibilities to verify compliance of data on disability from different sources are limited.
Each data source use different definitions and classifications
For 2011, basically there is no comparable information on the number of disabled persons for any of the categories: biological and legal.

11. Estimation procedure
In order to conduct the analysis of economic activity of disabled a two-fold approach was applied:
Aimed at assessment of quality of 2011 census data on disability
Use of demographic projection methodology for different categories of disabled according to 2002 census, to analyse the change after 9 years
The procedure was applied under severe assumptions We applied the order of the extinction of the full life table for the total population (with and without disabilities) of a given age and sex. It was assumed that lower probability of death for the total population than for the population with biological disabilities, is compensated by the biological disability acquired as a result of different kinds of injury and accidents in the period between censuses. This assumption has not been verified and is controversial, but no information on the death rate of people with disabilities prevents a different approach. Also, estimates of disability as a consequence of accidents are difficult because of the lack of relevant information.
The results show:
the impact of introducing new law - the decline in the number of legally disabled
the scale of growth of disability as a result of disease and accidents
Aimed at assessing a pattern of economic activity of disabled
Use of 2002 census data in order to:
assess a pattern of economic activity of disabled
estimate the gap between economic activity of people with and without disability
Use LFS data for the comparison of :
the pattern of economic activity of disabled estimated upon the 2002 census data
the gap between economic activity of people with and without disability
changes in time
The model obtained might be used to assess economic activity of disabled, based on 2011 census estimates

12. Estimation results – comparison and evaluation
Different results of implementing the demographic aging procedure by category of disability: For legally disabled, they maintain regulations from reflected in the increase in this category in the retirement age with the shift in time (9 years between censuses) For biologically disabled the gap indicates the intensity of the growth of disability, especially significant for the elderly over 50 years old

13. Economic activity of people with disabilities, 2002 Census
Age
Employment Rate: Disalbed/All Persons
Unemployment Rate: Disalbed/All Persons
Males
Females
15-19
0,5
1,1
20-24
1,2
25-29
0,4
1,5
1,3
30-34
1,7
1,4
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
0,6
60-64
0,7
1,0
65-69
70-74
75+
Total
0,3

14. Economic activity of people with disabilities, LFS 2001-2015
Age
Employment Rate: Disalbed/All Persons
Unemployment Rate: Disalbed/All Persons
Males
Females
15-19
0,4
1,9
0,5
0,7
20-24
1,5
0,3
1,7
25-29
2,5
2,0
30-34
2,2
1,2
35-39
1,6
40-44
2,6
45-49
2,3
50-54
55-59
60-64
1,1
Total

15. Economic activity of people with disabilities, LFS 2001-2015
LFS data for years was also used to verify the stability of the observed pattern of economic activity people with disabilities. It turns out that when it comes to employment, the resulting pattern is essentially unchanged over time.
While the unemployment rate is characterized by a growing trend.
In particular, a significant increase was observed during the economic crisis.
This confirms particularly difficult situation of people with disabilities in the labour market.

16. Estimates of economic activity of disabled, 2011 Census
Average estimates of employment and unemployment rates, taking into account the growing trend in the unemployment rate
Age
Males
Females
Employment Rate
Unemployment Rate 15
0,03
0,48
0,02
0,32 20
0,23
0,15
0,40 25
0,30
0,26
0,27
0,25 30
0,18
0,14 35
0,31 40
0,17 45
0,28
0,19 50
0,29 55 60
0,10
0,08
0,04
65+
0,13
0,07

17. Conclusion
Diversity of the data sources, definitions and subjective assessment on disability influence the analysis
An increasing tendency in the number of biologically disabled
The official regulations significantly influenced estimates of legally disabled, but the decrease in the number of merely legally disabled is reasonable
However, different data sources show similar pattern of economic activity of the disabled population
Employment Rate (ER) for people with disabilities is about 3 times lower for men and 2,5 times for women than for the whole population For men of the age group the ER amounts to over 88% for the whole population and less than 30% for disabled For women of the age group the ER amounts to over 71% for the whole population and about 31% for disabled
Unemployment Rate (UR) for people with disabilities is about 60% higher for men and 50% for women than for the whole population For men of the age group the UR amounts to less than 7% for all persons and over 15% for disabled For women of the age group the UR amounts to less than 10% for all persons and over 12% for disabled
The gap between employment rate was almost stable during 2001 – 2015 time period
The gap between unemployment rate has increased for about 60%, particularly evident in times of crisis
The inequalities in economic activity pattern for disabled are particularly significant for younger persons with disabilities

18. Thanks for your attention
Grażyna Dehnel
Elżbieta Gołata