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The disability employment gap in European countries

What is the role of labour market policy

Bibliographic Data

ID12255643
AuthorsR Van Der Zwan (0000-0003-2624-2705, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, corresponding author), Paul De Beer (0000-0002-1427-9992, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Year2021
Volume31
Issue4
Pages473-486
Publication date2021-04-12
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of European Social Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0958-9287 • E-ISSN: 1461-7269
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/09589287211002435
OpenAlexW3155195705
LanguageEN
Citations received18
References cited45

Across Europe, the labour market participation of persons with disabilities remains lower than that of persons without a disability. Our research examines this disability employment gap, looking specifically at its variation by country and gender. Additionally, we test the influence of labour market policies – testing both the social investment perspective and the welfare scepticism perspective – on the size of the gap, in an effort to determine whether a more generous welfare state raises or lowers the employment rate of people with disabilities. Using the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), we show that Southern European countries have the smallest disability employment gap. Whereas stricter employment protection legislation is found to be beneficial for people with disabilities on the labour market, other labour market policies specifically intended to benefit this group do not strongly affect their chances on the labour market. These findings support the social investment perspective and show that social policies can have a positive effect on the employment of people with disabilities

Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economic policy · Economics · Employment protection legislation · European union · Investment (military · Labour economics · Legislation · Market economy · Political science · Unemployment · Welfare · Welfare state · Disability Education and Employment · Employment and Welfare Studies · Retirement, Disability, and Employment

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    Open Access•R Van Der Zwan•Alter•2023

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Unique citing works18
Citations per year3,6
Citation span2021 - 2026 (6)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 18
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