A Review of the Research on the Employment of the Disabled

Ziqi Huang

School of Business Administration, Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, Guangzhou, 510000, China

Keywords: Employment of The Disabled, Public Policy, Research Review.

Abstract: The employment of the disabled is an important part of social equity and inclusive development. The purpose

of this research review is to analyze the current situation and existing problems of the employment of the

disabled after the promulgation and implementation of the three-year action plan for promoting the

employment of the disabled. The research results indicate that after the promulgation of the policy, the

disabled still face some obstacles in the employment process, but the results are remarkable with joint efforts.

The shortcomings of the existing literature are for the research on the employment differences of different

types of disabilities, the hidden factors of employment difficulties, the employment research under the digital

economy, the research on Entrepreneurship of the disabled and cross-cultural comparative research are

relatively few. In this regard, the present study this paper puts forward corresponding measures and

suggestions, such as strengthening the top-level design of employment of the disabled, setting up targeted

policies, establishing the statistical index system of employment of the disabled, to provide theoretical

summary and theoretical support for subsequent related research and policy-making.

1 INTRODUCTION

Caring for the disabled is an important symbol of

human civilization and progress, a key dimension to

highlight social inclusiveness, and a moral

responsibility shared by the international community.

In China, caring for the disabled has always been

regarded as an indispensable part of building a

harmonious society. By constantly improving laws

and regulations, strengthening the social welfare

system, and promoting the development of public

welfare undertakings, the government fully protect

the rights and interests of vulnerable groups. With the

rapid development of the economy, Chinese society

has paid more attention to the employment of the

disabled, hoping that the disabled can better integrate

into society and realize their self-worth. On the one

hand, the prejudice and even discrimination against

the disabled in the traditional concept still exist. Many

enterprises screen out non disabled people first when

recruiting, which greatly reduces the employment

opportunities of the disabled. On the other hand, the

labor market competition is fierce, and the disabled

are at a disadvantage in the employment market,

facing more employment challenges. Promoting the

employment of the disabled can not only help them to

be self reliant and obtain a sense of happiness and

achievement, but also related to social equity and

people's livelihood.

The State Council has issued the notice of the

general office of the State Council on printing and

Issuing the three-year action plan for promoting the

employment of the disabled (2022-2024), which aims

to further consolidate the achievements of poverty

eradication and help people with disabilities achieve

fuller employment. The plan aims to achieve the

employment goal of 1million people with disabilities

in urban and rural areas nationwide by 2022-2024.

Through ten main measures and six guarantee

conditions, it will promote the effective protection of

the employment rights and interests of the disabled

and effectively promote the entrepreneurship and

employment of the disabled (General Office of the

State Council, 2022).

Since the implementation of the policy, with the

progress of social concepts and the development of

technology, the number of disabled people in

employment has increased, and the employment

situation has improved. Many disabled people have

experienced the sense of satisfaction and achievement

brought by employment. Nowadays, the positive

changes and improvements cannot be ignored. First,

in terms of policy support, the Chinese government

has formulated a series of laws, regulations and

supporting policies on the employment of the

194

Huang, Z.

A Review of the Research on the Employment of the Disabled.

DOI: 10.5220/0013976900004912

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development (IESD 2025), pages 194-199

ISBN: 978-989-758-779-5

disabled, adopted various measures to promote the

employment of the disabled, and provided various

forms of employment for the disabled (Ma, 2022). In

addition, the proportional employment system is also

constantly being adjusted and improved. For

example, China imposes penalties on enterprises that

fail to arrange employment for the disabled in

accordance with the prescribed proportion, and

provides financial support through the employment

security fund for the disabled (Jin, 2023). Secondly,

social enterprises are playing an increasingly

important role in promoting the employment of the

disabled. Some scholars pointed out that social

enterprises, as an innovative form of public welfare

and charity, provide "decent" jobs for the disabled,

realize large-scale employment and improve the

quality of employment at the same time. Especially in

the centralized employment mode, social enterprises

led by government-run charitable foundations can

achieve the goal of maximizing public interests, this

shows that social forces are gradually becoming an

indispensable part of promoting the employment of

the disabled(Li et al., 2024). Moreover, the

development of the Internet economy has brought

new opportunities for flexible employment. The

research shows that the number of flexible

employment of disabled people in China has shown a

trend of "rising - falling - rising", and flexible

employment has become the second largest form of

employment after rural planting and breeding, this

new form of employment enables more disabled

people to find suitable jobs without being restricted

by the traditional workplace, especially in the field of

Internet economy (Xu et al., 2023). At the same time,

young people with disabilities are also actively

exploring the possibility of digital employment. They

use digital platforms and technical skills to participate

in a wider range of market activities (Yi, 2024). It is

worth noting that after the progress made in the field

of higher education, more and more disabled people

with good education began to enter the workplace.

After decades of efforts, the enrollment object of

higher education for the disabled has become

diversified, the scale of running schools has gradually

expanded, and the level of running schools has

become increasingly perfect. This means that more

disabled people with professional knowledge and

technical ability will join various industries in the

future, so as to further improve the level of career

development and social integration of the entire

disabled group (He et al., 2024). In general, although

the disabled still face some obstacles in the process of

employment, the achievements of all sectors of

society cannot be underestimated.

This paper aims to systematically sort out the

research on the employment of the disabled by

discussing the problems that still exist after the

promulgation of the plan and since its

implementation, integrating the research perspectives

of different fields and countries, analyzing the current

situation, problems and Countermeasures of the

employment of the disabled, summarizing and

summarizing the theoretical achievements in the field

of the employment of the disabled, providing a

theoretical basis and framework for the follow-up

research, providing diversified theoretical support for

the employment of the disabled, and providing

theoretical guidance for the further formulation and

implementation of the employment policy for the

disabled.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

From the perspective of research, the literature can be

classified from multiple perspectives. First of all, the

first kind of literature uses a comparative perspective

to compare and analyze the international policies and

international experience of China and the world, so as

to provide reference for the employment status and

policies of the disabled in China. There is an article

compares the experience of foreign proportional

employment system and puts forward suggestions to

optimize China's system (Wang, 2024).

The second kind of literature uses a historical

perspective, from the perspective of time, to

investigate the phenomenon of employment

difficulties for the disabled or the development

process and evolution of policies, and finally puts

forward suggestions for policy development. There is

an article comments on the employment policies and

effects of the disabled in the United States at various

stages, and analyzes the evolution process and

reasons of the employment policies for the disabled

in the United States in the past century (Yang et al.,

2008).

The third kind of literature, from an empirical

perspective, based on various types of actual data and

empirical facts, uses quantitative or qualitative

research methods to rationally analyze the

phenomenon or problems of the employment of the

disabled. For example, from the perspective of

flexible employment, There is an article by domestic

scholars analyzed the data in the statistical yearbook,

drew a statistical map of the number of flexible

employment of the disabled nationwide from 2016 to

2021 and the proportion of various employment

modes of the disabled, revealed the trend of flexible

A Review of the Research on the Employment of the Disabled

195

employment of the disabled and the changes of

different employment modes, and finally put forward

suggestions to promote the flexible employment of

the disabled (Xu et al., 2023). Some foreign scholars'

articles take some disabled youth in Bhutan as

examples to explore the situation of disabled youth

obtaining meaningful employment opportunities.

Researchers have developed and tested an

employment assessment tool (EAT) by collecting

data to help disabled youth understand what they need

to do to get closer to meaningful employment. At the

same time, the study also evaluated the effectiveness

and practicability of the tool, and discussed how the

Bhutanese government and community supported the

transition of disabled youth from family, school or

other environment to formal or informal employment

(Lynch et al, 2023). Other scholars have collected a

large number of first-hand data through qualitative

research methods, field research and in-depth

interviews, discussed the process and challenges of

disabled youth entering the formal employment

market in Bangladesh, and based on the research

results, put forward specific suggestions to improve

the employment situation of disabled youth

(Bechange et al, 2024).

The fourth type of literature from a theoretical

perspective, based on the existing theoretical

framework and concepts, through the construction or

quotation of theoretical models, as well as theoretical

reasoning, carries out theoretical analysis on the

employment of the disabled. At present, two studies

have analyzed the employment problem of people

with disabilities and its underlying reasons from a

theoretical perspective, and proposed specific policy

recommendations. However, the first study focuses

more on the construction of theoretical background

and emphasizes the role of social environment (Ma,

2022). The second article focuses more on the

practical operation of policies (Wang, 2006). In

addition, there is another article that focuses more on

the construction of statistical indicator systems

compared to the above two articles. Through

comparative analysis of international experience, the

article proposes specific suggestions for constructing

a statistical indicator system for the employment of

persons with disabilities, emphasizing the scientific

and practical nature of statistical indicators (Zhang et

al, 2023). Overall, all three provide multidimensional

perspectives and solutions for the employment issues

of people with disabilities.

The fifth category of literature from a practical

perspective, from the actual operation and specific

experience, through specific cases and practical

experience, analyzes and solves the employment

problem of the disabled, and puts forward practical

and feasible solutions. There is an article uses the

method of case study and field research to collect the

actual experience and data of disabled youth in digital

employment, describes in detail the current situation,

challenges and successful experience of disabled

youth in digital employment, analyzes the

employment advantages of disabled youth in the

digital era, and puts forward the path to promote the

digital employment of disabled youth (Yi, 2024).

There are also documents from the perspective of

policy innovation and reform, from the perspective of

policy design and implementation, to explore how to

solve the problem of employment for the disabled

through new policies and reform measures, and put

forward some innovative countermeasures based on

the current situation. There is an article creatively

proposed that social enterprises should be used as

innovative means of public welfare and charity to

build a new mechanism for the employment of the

disabled with social enterprises as the core, providing

new ideas and directions for the employment of the

disabled, and analyzing the cultivation path of social

enterprises for the employment of the disabled with

the cooperation of multiple subjects (Li et al, 2024).

After literature analysis, the contribution of

existing literature can be summarized from the

following aspects. First, the description of the

employment status of the disabled is relatively clear,

which mainly shows that the employment rate of the

disabled is low, the employment gap is significant

compared with that of the non disabled, and the

employment mode is relatively single, mainly

concentrated in welfare enterprises, proportional

employment and other forms. Secondly, the literature

has a variety of perspectives on the employment

barriers of the disabled, including the perspective of

social issues, comparative perspective and digital

perspective. In addition, most literatures involve the

discussion on the employment promotion strategies

for the disabled, and put forward many suggestions,

such as improving laws and regulations, clarifying the

subject status of the rights of the disabled, improving

environmental conditions, strengthening the

construction of barrier free facilities, improving the

employment service system for the disabled,

providing employment guidance and employment

training, optimizing the employment security system,

and better promoting the employment of the disabled.

Some literatures have also used constructive tools to

try to help the disabled get a better job. These research

results have important reference value for promoting

the development of the cause of the disabled and

promoting the employment of the disabled in China.

IESD 2025 - International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development

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However, there are still gaps in the existing

literature. First of all, the literature mainly focuses on

the overall employment situation of the disabled, but

there is no in-depth analysis of the employment

differences of different types of disabilities (such as

vision, hearing, limbs, intelligence). Different types

of disabilities may face different obstacles in the

process of job hunting, and have different

requirements for the working environment. It is

necessary to formulate more refined employment

support policies. Secondly, the literature mainly

focuses on the problem of explicit employment

difficulties, but there are relatively few studies on

some hidden factors of employment difficulties, such

as unconscious crowding out of the disabled in the

workplace and some "stereotypes" that will cause

some problems for the employment of the disabled.

In addition, most of the literature mainly focuses on

the traditional employment mode, but there is a lack

of research on the employment opportunities in the

digital economy era. At present, new business forms

such as telecommuting, e-commerce and sharing

economy provide new employment opportunities for

the disabled. It is necessary to study how to use these

opportunities to promote the employment of the

disabled. In addition, the literature mainly focuses on

the employment of the disabled, but the research on

entrepreneurship support for the disabled is relatively

few and not deep enough.

3 EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF

THE DISABLED

From the perspective of overall trend, a series of laws

and regulations have been issued at the national level

to strengthen the protection of the employment rights

and interests of the disabled. For example, the law of

the People’s Republic of China on the protection of

the disabled, which has been implemented since

2008, aims to safeguard the legitimate rights and

interests of the disabled and develop the cause of the

disabled. By 2021, the "14th five year plan" for the

protection and development of the disabled has been

issued. The employment situation of the disabled has

improved significantly in the past few decades. From

the previous "affiliation" to the steady provision of

disabled jobs by state-owned enterprises and private

enterprises in major provinces and cities, from the

previous recruitment of mild disabled people to the

current auxiliary employment, so that more

intellectual, mental and severe disabled people can go

out of their homes. From the previous employment

only without training to the current management and

service system of vocational training for the disabled,

In the past three years alone, the employment rate of

1.57 million disabled people has increased by 4.8

percentage points, and the overall employment

situation has steadily improved. However, despite

these achievements, the current employment trend of

the whole society is not optimistic, and employment

for disabled people is even more difficult. Although

all aspects have improved under the implementation

of the program, there are still some phenomena and

problems that have not been properly solved.

4 EMPLOYMENT OF THE

DISABLED

First of all, the disabled still face the problem of

insufficient job supply in the employment market. In

terms of the quality of employment, the level of

employment and the stability of employment, the

disabled are at a significant disadvantage compared

with the non disabled (Ma, 2022). Although the State

encourages enterprises to attract the employment of

the disabled, in reality, only a few private enterprises

are willing to provide jobs for the disabled, and the

participation of state-owned enterprises and foreign-

funded enterprises is relatively low. While quasi

government organizations such as the disabled

persons' Federation and the village residents'

committee often take the form to complete the

procedural work when providing employment

support, without really understanding the needs of the

disabled (Ge et al., 2021). Secondly, the employment

training system for the disabled is not perfect, the

existing employment training is not standardized and

extensive, the training content is out of line with the

market demand, and the training quality is uneven. In

addition, the rehabilitation expenses of the disabled

are relatively large, while the wages and benefits at

work are far lower than those of the non special

hardship groups. This imbalance between income and

expenditure makes them face greater economic

pressure in the process of employment. In addition,

the disabled still have the problem of imperfect

barrier free facilities in the process of employment.

Although some barrier free facilities have been set up,

there are other inconveniences (Zhang, 2024), as well

as problems such as implicit discrimination and

stereotype, which make them not preferred in

employment, all of which aggravate the difficulty of

their employment.

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5 EMPLOYMENT

COUNTERMEASURES FOR

THE DISABLED

For the current situation of the employment of the

disabled, in view of the literature research gap, this

paper has the following suggestions. First of all, the

government should strengthen the top-level design of

the employment of the disabled, make a more

accurate assessment and summary of the

implementation effect of the three-year action plan to

promote the employment of the disabled, formulate

relevant policies and plans, actively eliminate the

chaos of "affiliated employment" of the disabled,

increase the employment salary of the disabled to

support the rehabilitation expenses of the disabled,

and clarify the responsibilities of various departments

to form a joint force. In addition, targeted policies

should also be set according to the types of disabilities

and difficulties faced by the disabled to meet the

needs of different types of disabled people. The

government should also establish a statistical index

system for the employment of the disabled, conduct

regular employment surveys, master the employment

dynamics of the disabled, and provide data support

for the formulation of employment policies.

Secondly, the government should promote the

construction of barrier free environment, strengthen

the construction and transformation of barrier free

facilities, and listen to the opinions of the disabled, so

that barrier free facilities can truly serve the disabled

and promote employment. At the same time, the

government should also combat discrimination at the

institutional level, enact an anti employment

discrimination law, strengthen the supervision of

employers, and protect the equal employment rights

of the disabled. In addition, the government should

also strengthen the construction of the employment

service system, provide one-stop systematic services,

including employment guidance, employment

information docking, employment training and other

services, and provide all-round support for the

employment of the disabled. In terms of employment

training, the government should develop diversified

training courses according to market demand and the

characteristics of the disabled, improve the pertinence

and effectiveness of training, enhance the

employability of the disabled, and set up

entrepreneurship courses to help and guide the

disabled to better start businesses. In shaping the

social atmosphere, the government should strengthen

social publicity and education, change the social

discrimination and prejudice against the disabled,

eliminate the "stereotype", take into account the

feelings of the disabled in all kinds of work and

activities, and create a good atmosphere for the

society to accept the disabled. At present, the

development of science and technology has brought

new forms and methods of employment. The

government and enterprises should actively promote

the participation of the disabled in digital careers,

such as remote office, online operation, which can not

only facilitate the disabled, but also expand the

employment channels for the disabled, so that they

can better integrate into the society

6 CONCLUSION

In general, since the implementation of the program,

the current situation of employment difficulties for

the disabled has improved, but there are still some

problems to be solved. The existing literature has a

clear description of the employment status of the

disabled, and most of them can put forward

constructive opinions from different angles. There are

also many literatures that have made comparative

analysis of domestic and foreign phenomena and

policies. However, there are also some research gaps

in these documents, such as the lack of in-depth

analysis of employment for different types of

disabilities, the lack of attention to hidden factors and

the needs of the disabled, and the lack of in-depth

research on the adaptation of the disabled to digital

employment. For the current situation of employment

difficulties for the disabled, this study puts forward

some key problems that still need to be solved, such

as the disabled are still at a significant disadvantage

in the employment market compared with the non

disabled, the employment training system for the

disabled is not perfect, standardized and extensive,

the salary is far lower than that of the non special

groups, the barrier free facilities are not perfect and

implicit discrimination, stereotypes still exist, and

puts forward some practical countermeasures for

these problems, such as formulating relevant policies

and plans, establishing the employment statistics

index system for the disabled, combating

discrimination from the institutional level,

strengthening the construction of employment service

system, and actively promoting the participation of

the disabled in digital careers. The results of this

study will help the disabled better achieve high-

quality and high-level employment in the future, but

the results of this study fail to fully take into account

the changes in the macro environment, so it has

certain limitations. It is hoped that future related

IESD 2025 - International Conference on Innovative Education and Social Development

198

research can take into account the impact of

environmental factors, extend the Perspective to other

disciplines, and further excavate and integrate

relevant theories on the basis of existing research, so

as to build a more perfect theoretical framework.

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