ICT employers discriminating against people with disabilities

Stuart Corner
Monday, 10 October 2011 10:43

IT Industry - Strategy

Despite the ICT industry's role in developing technologies that enable people with disabilities to be accommodated in workplaces, the industry itself still discriminates against such people and is thus ignoring a large and potentially valuable pool of talent, a new report claims.

The report 'Disability and ICT: Re-think the Equation and Review the Opportunity', was produced by the Information Technology Contract & Recruitment Association (ITCRA) and has been released to coincide with World Mental Health Day today, 10 October.

According to the report: "While people with a disability form the largest section of the 'untapped' workforce, they are also the least likely to be included in an untapped workforce strategy by ICT recruiters in Australia and New Zealand and may have more hurdles to jump to access employment."

ITCRA CEO, Julie Mills, said: "People with disability form around 20 percent of the population and 10 percent of the workforce, and present a huge opportunity for companies struggling to improve workplace productivity and minimise skills shortages.

"Yet recruiters and employers often appear to discount accessing this group as a potential resource, instead focusing on other more publicised marginalised workers such as those returning to work after childbirth, indigenous workers or graduates."

An ITCRA survey of its members found that, of the half that had a diversity strategy, only 15 percent identified people with disability as a potential talent pool. "This talent pool is too large to ignore, especially when considering that many disabilities may provide little to no negative impact on an ICT employer," ITCRA said.

According to ITCRA, the situation is changing and both employers and recruiters will need to adapt. "The Australian Public Service Commission is already expecting Australian Public Service organisations to provide metrics on how they are achieving success in hiring, retaining and accommodating the needs of people with disabilities."

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