Wireless RERC - unemployment rate

Department of Labor App Challenge

blippincott4 — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:23:31 +0000

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

05.24.12 – The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has launched an app challenge inviting participants to compete for $10,000 in prizes and a chance for their app to be featured on the ODEP website. The challenge aims to “promote recruitment resources for employers, develop job training and skill-building tools for job seekers, facilitate employment-related transportation options and expand information communication technology accessibility.” The assistant secretary of labor for disability policy, Kathy Martinez highlighted the importance of this challenge stating, “Using today’s technology, we hope to inspire creative and innovative solutions to the pressing employment-related problems faced by people with disabilities.” Currently, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 12.5 percent compared to 7.6 percent of people without disabilities. Submissions are asked to address the unemployment gap by ensuring that the apps are accessible, “provide access to important data and resources,” and are intended for a variety of job seekers, career counselors and employers. Submissions for the challenge are due on August 23, 2012. [Source: Department of Labor]

New NIDRR DRRP Proposed Priorities

blippincott4 — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:35:00 +0000

National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP)

proposed priorities

employment

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) has issued a notice of proposed priority for a Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) on employment of individuals with disabilities. The notice highlights that current unemployment rates for people ages 25 to 54 are approximately two times higher for individuals with disabilities compared to individuals without disabilities and that the average yearly wage for individuals with disabilities is about $10,000 less than individuals without disabilities. The notice seeks to propose a priority for a DRRP that would “contribute to the outcomes of increased employment rates, hours of paid work, earnings and other compensation for individuals with disabilities as well as improved job and career satisfaction and other work-related outcomes for individuals with disabilities.” Suggested research activities include the impact of government policies and general workplace policies on employment for individuals with disabilities, the use of technology to “support improved employment outcomes of individuals with disabilities,” policies to improve the employment situation of transition-aged youth with disabilities, and research of current vocational rehabilitation practices. The proposed priorities may be used for the current as well as later fiscal years. Comments on the notice are due May 29, 2012. [Source: NIDRR]

Additional Information:
NIDRR Announcement
[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-26/html/2012-10010.htm]

New Unemployment Rates

blippincott4 — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

unemployment rate

disability statistics

employment

04.06.2012 – The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released new statistics highlighting the employment status for people with disabilities. The statistics show that the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 15.2% for March of 2012 and has varied only slightly from March of 2011 when the rate was 15.6%. The report also shows that the current unemployment rate for people with disabilities is almost double the rate for people without disabilities (8.1%). Men ages 16 to 64 with disabilities have an unemployment rate of 17.5% compared to 8.8% for men without disabilities, while women ages 16 to 64 with disabilities had an unemployment rate of 16.1% compared to 7.5% for women without disabilities. [Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics]

Additional Information:

Bureau of Labor Statistics

[http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm]