A new national job board, dedicated to connecting disabled workers and employers, launched this week featuring 118 job postings from two sponsoring New Jersey employers. AccessibleEmployment.org is a non-profit venture financed through the New Jersey Business Leadership Network and the Henry H. Kessler Foundation. The goal is to have the job board become a national resource for employers seeking to hire disabled workers and disabled workers seeking employment, according to Dan Honig, COO for the organization.
“So many people with disabilities are able to work, but they are largely being ignored by employers,” says Honig. “The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there are over 30 million disabled workers between the ages of 16 to 64, but only 18 million are currently employed. Over 70% of disabled workers have hidden disabilities, but of those declaring their disabilities, the average cost of the reasonable accommodation is anywhere from $200 to $600. We think that this workforce offers financial advantages to employers.”
Honig points out that some disabled workers are covered by Medicare or Medicaid, which provides health insurance cost savings for employers, and also that employers may be eligible for tax credits when they hire a disabled worker.