More Americans with disabilities found work despite broader employment decline

More Americans with disabilities were working in August, tying the record high reached in November 2025, even as employment among people without disabilities declined, according to today's National Trends in Disability Employment–Jobs Report (nTIDE), issued 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 from 38.3 percent in July 2026 to 39.8 percent in August 2026 (up 3.9 percent or 1.5 percentage points). In contrast, for people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio decreased from 75.0 percent in July 2026 to 74.6 percent in August 2026 (down 0.5 percent or 0.4 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).

"In August, the percentage of people with disabilities who are working, 39.8 percent, tied the all-time high set in November 2025," said John O'Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation. "In July we found that more people with disabilities were actively looking for work, relative to people without disabilities. The increase in employment in August suggests that many of those job seekers found work," he added.

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

Similarly, the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 42.4 percent in July 2026 to 43.4 percent in August 2026 (up 2.4 percent, or 1 percentage point). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate decreased from 78.2 percent in July 2026 to 77.9 percent in August 2026 (down 0.4 percent, or 0.3 percentage points). 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).

The labor force participation rate for people with disabilities reached a new all-time high, 43.4 percent, breaking the 42.8 percent mark set in November 2025. While it is generally a positive sign to see more people with disabilities in the labor market, cost-of-living prices continue to rise."

Andrew Houtenville, PhD, professor of economics and director of the UNH-IOD

"With many people with disabilities living at or below the poverty line, it is not surprising to find rising labor force participation, as people with disabilities and their families struggle with these rising prices," he added.

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

Compared with the same time last year, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 38.5 percent in August 2025 to 39.8 percent in August 2026 (up 3.4 percent or 1.3 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio slightly increased from 74.5 percent in August 2025 to 74.6 percent in August 2026 (up 0.1 percent or 0.1 percentage points).

The labor force participation rate for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 42.2 percent in August 2025 to 43.4 percent in August 2026 (up 2.8 percent or 1.2 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate stayed the same, 77.9 percent in August 2025 and 2026.

In August, among workers ages 16-64, the 6,788,000 workers with disabilities represented 4.5 percent of the total 150,913,000 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 September 4, 2026, guest presenter Ellice Switzer of Cornell University joins 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.