5 Benefits of Hiring Individuals with Disabilities
DES proudly recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October and offers several programs to assist job seekers with disabilities, as well as pathways for employers to enhance their teams by hiring individuals who have disabilities.
Hiring individuals with disabilities brings a multitude of benefits for companies that go above simply filling vacancies. Here are some of the benefits employers can expect when opening their labor force to this demographic.
Return on Investment - Since individuals with disabilities tend to stay employed with the same company longer, employers will benefit by saving on training and recruitment costs.
New Perspective - Innovation is key to a successful business. Employees with disabilities bring unique experiences and perspectives that can transform a workplace and enhance products and services.
Loyal Customer Base - According to the U.S. Department of Labor, customers with disabilities and their families, friends and associates represent a trillion-dollar market segment who purchase products and services from companies that best meet their needs. Hiring individuals from this demographic can help companies bypass marketing costs to influence this customer base who often prefer to patronize businesses that hire people with disabilities.
Diversity and Inclusivity – A diverse workforce can boost creativity and innovation within a team. Staff who work for an inclusive employer often have a greater sense of employee morale, which subsequently results in reduced turnover rates and a better reputation for the company.
Tax Credit - Employers may qualify for a Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) for every individual with a disability who is hired.
Employers interested in growing their employee base to include Arizonans with disabilities can contact the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Vocational Rehabilitation Employer Liaisons at [email protected]. For information about job seeker services for individuals with disabilities, please visit the Arizona Rehabilitation Services website.