The Importance of Job Quality and Benefits for Workers with Disabilities: Evidence From the Longitudinal Study of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program

Background/Purpose: Studies indicate positive effects of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program (VRSP) in assisting people living with disabilities (PWD) to find independent employment (Cook & Razzano, 2000; Dutta et al, 2008). However, PWD receive fewer employee benefits (e.g., health insurance) than do workers in the general population (Lustig, Strauser & Donnell, 2003), though quality of employment opportunities are just as important as finding any job. Additionally, there are disparities in work and benefits among groups within the PWD population. People with physical disabilities have higher employment rates than those with mental illness, and are more likely to obtain employer-supported health insurance, avoiding reliance on public health programs (Sosulski, 2008). Benefits like paid sick leave, vacation, and pensions indicate higher quality jobs, but less is known about how groups compare on these measures. This study explores differences in employment quality among workers with disabilities, based on number and kind of benefits obtained.

Methods: This study comprises analyses of administrative data from the Longitudinal Survey of the VRSP, from 1995 to 2000. The sample included 2528 people who successfully exited the VRSP with jobs. The sample includes beneficiaries with physical, mental, and sensory/communicative impairment (n=976, 1010, 542, respectively). Employment quality was measured by receipt of at least one employer-supported benefit: health insurance, dental insurance, vacation, sick leave, life insurance, or pension/retirement plan. Demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, education), disability (type and severity), work history, public assistance, and length of employment served as controls. Logistic regression analyses revealed associations between disability type and benefits receipt in general, and of specific employee benefits.

Findings: Results show that for all VRSP participants, men were more likely to receive benefits by a ratio of 1:.78. More education (> 12 years) predicted greater likelihood of benefits receipt than less than high school diploma (ratio, 1.35:1). Receiving public assistance was negatively associated with receiving benefits, while work history was positively associated; these results support previous studies' findings. Significantly, older participants (> 55 years old) were less likely to receive benefits than younger workers (16 to 25). Significant differences were found between groups, notably between people with sensory impairment and those with other physical disabilities: People with sensory impairment were more likely to receive any benefits (ratio, 1.34:1), except paid vacation. But benefits for those with disabling mental illness do not appear to be significantly different than for physical disabilities.

Implications: Differences in job quality among VRSP participants who successfully found work are illuminating. Depending on disability type—especially sensory differences like blindness or deafness—the likelihood of obtaining important benefits that improve quality of life increases, although the precise reasons or mechanisms are as yet unclear. Prior research suggests that people with sensory impairments receive more benefits because of higher employment rates; and apparent lack of access to benefits for people with mental illness may result from less overall employment (Dutta et al., 2008). However, discrimination and other factors may also play roles. Further investigation is needed to explain why these disparities exist, and ways to reduce them.