Task force finds companies overlook qualified workers with disabilities
by The Canadian Press
No special accommodation required in 57 per cent of cases when people with disabilities hired
OTTAWA—A government-commissioned panel says many companies struggling to find employees are overlooking a talented pool of disabled workers.
The group says there are almost 800,000 people with disabilities who are still capable of working and about half of them have post-secondary education.
The panel of private-sector employers was assembled by the federal government last summer and was asked to figure out how to better match job openings with the skills of workers with disabilities.
The report says that when companies hire people with disabilities no special accommodation is required in 57 per cent of cases.
When special arrangements are necessary, the average cost to the company is just $500.
Human Resources Minister Diane Finley and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty are making the report public Jan. 16.
