New report shows rising job search among disabled individuals

More people with disabilities were actively looking for work in July compared to June, while the number of people without disabilities seeking employment declined over the same period. These findings come from the July 2026 National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report issued today.

Issued monthly by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability, nTIDE tracks employment and labor force trends for people with and without disabilities.

Based on data from today's BLS Jobs Report and nTIDE analysis, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased slightly from 38.0 percent in June 2026 to 38.3 percent in July 2026 (up 0.8 percent or 0.3 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio also increased slightly from 74.8 percent in June 2026 to 75.0 percent in July 2026 (up 0.3 percent or 0.2 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, is the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the total population, then multiplied by 100).

The employment-to-population ratio increased slightly, possibly reflecting the need employers have for additional hospitality workers during the summer vacation season."

John O'Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research, Kessler Foundation

Month-to-month nTIDE numbers (comparing June 2026 to July 2026)

More pronouncedly, the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 41.8 percent in June 2026 to 42.4 percent in July 2026 (up 1.4 percent, or 0.6 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate remained the same at 78.2 percent in June and July 2026. The labor force participation rate reflects the percentage of people who are in the labor force (working, actively looking for work in the last four weeks, or on temporary layoff/furlough) relative to the total population (the number of people in the labor force divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).

"With prices showing no signs of declining anytime soon, it is not surprising that people with disabilities are more likely to seek work these days, especially given they are more likely to experience poverty," said Andrew Houtenville, PhD, professor of economics and director of the UNH-IOD. "When the labor force participation rate increases by more than the employment-to-population rate, we know that more people are actively looking for work," he added.

Year-to-year nTIDE numbers (comparing July 2025 to July 2026)

Compared with the same time last year, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 37.0 percent in July 2025 to 38.3 percent in July 2026 (up 3.5 percent or 1.3 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio slightly decreased from 75.1 percent in July 2025 to 75.0 percent in July 2026 (down 0.1 percent or 0.1 percentage points).

The labor force participation rate for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 41.6 percent in July 2025 to 42.4 percent in July 2026 (up 1.9 percent or 0.8 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate decreased from 78.5 percent in July 2025 to 78.2 percent in July 2026 (down 0.4 percent or 0.3 percentage points).

In July, among workers ages 16-64, the 6,690,000 workers with disabilities represented 4.4 percent of the total 151,261,000 workers in the U.S.

Ask questions about disability and employment

On the same day nTIDE is issued, the team hosts an nTIDE Lunch and Learn webinar. This live Zoom broadcast gives attendees a chance to ask questions about the latest findings, hear news and updates from the field, and learn from invited panelists who discuss current disability-related research and events.

On August 7, 2026, guest presenters Jeff Friedman and Javier Robles of Rutgers University join Drs. O'Neill and Houtenville, and Lillie Heigl, director of policy at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. Visit the nTIDE archives at ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE to see a recording of this nTIDE Lunch and Learn episode.