The Changing Composition of Disability among America’s Workers

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, employment among people with a disability has increased. In particular, the employment-population ratio (E-P ratio) among individuals with a disability ages 16 to 64 increased by 6.2 percentage points between 2019 and 2024.

In a previous blog post, we discussed two findings related to this change: Employment has increased at a higher rate among the disabled population than the broader population, and the size of the disabled population has also grown. As a result, it was difficult to determine whether the increase in the E-P ratio was primarily driven by changes in workplace culture and the availability of remote work or by a higher prevalence of pandemic-related disabilities among people already employed.

In this analysis, we use data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) to determine which types of disabilities have accounted for the recent increase in the disabled population and workforce. When surveying households, the CPS uses a set of six questions to identify persons with disabilities. A response of “yes” to any one of the questions indicates that the person in question has a disability relating to their hearing, vision, physical mobility or cognitive ability. The questions are presented in the table below, and the answers are grouped into four categories for purposes of our analysis.

Between 2019 and 2024, the share of respondents who reported only a cognitive disability increased by 4.8 percentage points, while the share of those reporting only a physical disability decreased by 4.5 percentage points. Importantly, since 2019, the E-P ratio has increased across all disability categories, meaning a greater percentage of America’s disabled population is working regardless of disability type; however, the most prominent increase has been among those reporting only a cognitive disability.

It is worth noting there are two factors responsible for changes in the E-P ratios since 2019: the number of disabled workers (the numerator) and the number of disabled respondents or total population (the denominator). The first figure below shows there has been an above-trend increase in the number of disabled workers since 2019. Growth in the number of cognitively disabled workers has been exceptionally high. In the past five years, the number of workers reporting only a cognitive disability has increased by 830,000, more than half the 1.6 million increase in total disabled workers. Over the same period, the number of workers with only a physical disability has increased by 128,000.

Changes in Disability Composition among Disabled Workers, Ages 16-64

SOURCES: Current Population Survey and authors’ calculations.

NOTE: The change is calculated by subtracting the previous year's monthly average from the reported year's monthly average; the monthly average for 2024 covers January through June.

Those changes in the numerator have not been perfectly mirrored in the denominator (the total disabled population), as shown in the next figure. The population reporting only a cognitive disability has grown substantially, by roughly 1 million, or 43%, since 2019. The growth of this category is quite significant considering the average annual growth from 2014 through 2019 was just 28,000. Conversely, the number of those with only a physical disability has actually fallen by 300,000. The physical disability category is the only one to have declined in the past five years, but it had been declining prior to 2019 as well.

Changes in Disability Composition among Entire Disabled Population, Ages 16-64

SOURCES: Current Population Survey and authors’ calculations.

NOTE: The change is calculated by subtracting the previous year's monthly average from the reported year's monthly average; the monthly average for 2024 covers January through June.

What Might Be Causing Growth of Those with a Disability?

Details regarding the growth of the disabled population point to two explanations for the growth of the E-P ratio. First, the dramatic increase in respondents identifying only as cognitively disabled may suggest an increase among the general population including existing workers of pandemic-related illness,* stress or trauma as well as greater awareness of mental health. Because these workers were employed before reporting a disability, their continued employment served to increase the overall E-P ratio. Second, the fact that the number of workers reporting only a physical disability has grown despite a substantial decrease in the population reporting only a physical disability suggests workplace inclusivity has likely contributed to increases in the E-P ratio for all disabled workers. A change in workplace culture or the rise in remote work may have made employment a more feasible option for many people with a disability.

* The word “illness” was added to this post on Sept. 3, 2024. As noted in a previous post, a cognitive disability may also be the direct result of COVID-19 infection.