New Government Data Shows Disability Employment Gap Remains Largely Unchanged in 2025

The latest Employment of Disabled People 2025 statistical release shows that 5.5 million disabled people were in work during Q2 2025, representing a slight rise in employment compared with the previous year. The increase reflects ongoing growth in the number of disabled people participating in the workforce.

Despite this, the overall disability employment rate stands at 52.8%, significantly lower than the 82.5% rate for non-disabled people. The resulting gap of nearly 30 percentage points has changed very little over the past year, underscoring the long-standing disparities faced by disabled people entering and progressing in work.

According to the report, disabled people remain more likely to work part-time, more likely to experience economic inactivity, and more likely to face barriers at key transition points, including recruitment, training, and retention. The data also highlights marked differences between disability types, with people experiencing mental health conditions and learning disabilities showing the lowest employment rates.

A Government spokesperson said the findings would “inform ongoing work to support disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work,” adding that further policy updates are expected in 2026 as part of wider disability employment reforms.

Employment charities and disability organisations have long raised concerns about the lack of progress in reducing the gap. While the latest figures show that more disabled people are working than ever before, experts say the gap has remained “stubbornly consistent” over the past decade, with only modest movement even during periods of overall labour-market growth.

The report also notes that fluctuations in long-term sickness, changing workforce demographics, and accessibility barriers in digital recruitment processes are contributing factors linked to continued disparities.

The Government is expected to release additional labour-market data early next year, including more detailed breakdowns by sector, region, and age group.