Employment Facts and Stats 2020 Report
This document by RNIB sets out the key facts, stats and trends on the employment situation of blind and partially sighted people.
Some of the key findings include:
There is a significant employment gap between blind and partially sighted people and the general population. The employment rate is 76% in the general population, 51% amongst the disabled population excluding sight loss and 27% for people registered blind and partially sighted.
Several factors influence the likelihood of being in work: age; educational attainment; severity of sight loss; additional disabilities and general health.
Registered blind and partially sighted people with a degree or higher still only have the same chance of getting a job as someone with no qualifications in the general public.
The age at which someone experiences sight loss influences the challenges they face, either in entry to the job market or job retention. People born blind or who lost their sight in childhood are less likely to ever enter the labour market, with 76% of this group ever having a job compared to 96% of people who lost their sight over the age of 30. However, it is very likely other factors influence this such as additional disabilities.
Published 2020.
Category: Research Reports