According to WHO, there is an estimated 1.3 billion people – about 16% of the global population – currently experience a disability.
According to the 2022 Census summary report, more than 1.1 million people in Ireland (22% of the population) reported having experienced at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty (Disability). Research shows that people with disabilities have far fewer employment opportunities when compared to their non-disabled peers.
A total of 49% of the employment rate is recorded for persons with disabilities compared to the employment rate for the general population of 71% (DFI fact sheet 2024).