Persons with disabilities, Labour force survey, 2002, 2nd quarter

These are the main results from an ad hoc module to the Labour Force Survey. Compared to a similar survey in the fourth quarter 2000 the activity rate among disabled persons has remained stable.

The difference in labour force participation between disabled persons and the total population is smaller among the young ones than among the older. Among those aged 16-24 the difference was only 2 percentage points, compared with 25 percentage points among persons aged 25-39. Among those between 40 and 60 the difference was more than 30 percentage points.

15 per cent of the population aged 16-66 disabled

About 15 per cent of the population aged 16-66 reported to have a disability, defined as long-term health problems, which may limit the everyday life. Compared to the survey in the fourth quarter 2000 this represents a decline in the proportion of disabled persons with 1 percentage point. In the second quarter 2002 the disability rate was 16 per cent among females and 13.5 per cent among males.

Limits on work ability

Among disabled persons with a job, 63 per cent reported that their disability restricts the kind of work that can be done, 53 per cent that it restricts the amount of work that can be done, and 10 per cent reported that their mobility to and from work is restricted.

Source

The data are based on an ad hoc module of questions added to the Labour Force Survey in the second quarter 2002.

Tables:

• Table 1 Population aged 16-66, total, and persons with disabilities by labour force status and sex. 1 000 and as per cent of all in each group
• Table 2 Population aged 16-66, total, and persons with disabilities by labour force status, age and sex.2nd quarter 2002. 1 000 and as per cent of all in each group