People with Disabilities: A Texas Profile

Figure 3: National Unemployment Rates for Individuals with and without Disabilities, 2009–2012
Annual Unemployment Rate
Figure notes: Annual unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. The rates are for individuals with and
without disabilities who are 16 years of age and older. Data are from BLS.
Differences in unemployment also exist between genders. Figure 4 illustrates the unemployment rates
for both men and women between the ages of 16 and 64 with and without disabilities. Between 2009
and 2012, men with disabilities generally had the highest unemployment rates. The lowest
unemployment rate was for women without disabilities.
Figure 4: National Unemployment Rates for Men and Women between the Ages of 16 and 64 with and
without Disabilities, 2009–2012
Annual Unemployment Rate
20.0
15.0
10.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
5.0
0.0
2009 2010 2011 2012
With disability Without disability
2009 2010 2011 2012
Men, with disability Women, with disabililty
Men, without disability Women, without disability
Figure notes: Annual unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. The rates are for individuals with and
without disabilities who are 16 to 64 years old. Data are from BLS.
Individuals with a disability have a lower labor force participation rate than individuals without
disabilities. Individuals are considered to be labor force participants if they are either employed or
unemployed and seeking work. Specific examples of people who are not labor force participants include
retired people, students, individuals taking care of children or other family members, and discouraged
job seekers. In 2011, approximately 80 percent of all individuals with disabilities were not participating
Texas Workforce Investment Council 13