In a historically tight labor market, now is the time for more Minnesota employers to consider hiring people with disabilities. On October 10, DEED Commissioner Steve Grove and I recognized more than two dozen Minnesota employers, who are leading on this front and breaking down barriers and hiring people with disabilities. Now more Minnesota employers will do the same.

Increasingly, more Minnesota employers are finding out about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. This under-tapped labor pool consists of talented and dedicated employees, many of whom are helping more businesses grow and thrive across the state. One manufacturing employer at the event noted how his business saw a turnover rate fall from 72% to 7% because of a greater focus on hiring people with disabilities — and another employer stressed that the minimal costs of accessibility accommodations are far less expensive than turnover costs.

Most importantly, hiring people with disabilities is an employment and economic equity issue. Minnesotans of working age with a disability are four times more likely not to be participating in the labor force compared to Minnesotans without a disability. And more than 110,600 people with disabilities live below the poverty line in Minnesota.

As the former director for State Services for the Blind (SSB), I always remind employers that the best candidate for the job might be blind, low vision, or DeafBlind. A three-minute video, How Can I Do This Job If I Can’t See shows blind, low vision and DeafBlind workers using high-tech and low-tech solutions to get the job done.

To help raise awareness about the essential contributions of employees with disabilities, Governor Walz declared October Employers Hiring People with Disabilities Month. DEED is committed to working with employers to help them recruit, hire and retain people with disabilities through DEED’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services Employment Specialists and State Services for the Blind services for employers.

Here’s a quick look at what we’re doing at DEED during October to elevate Employers Hiring People with Disabilities Month:

• SSB and other partners hosted an employer training on October 9 on retaining employees with disabilities and creating a culture of inclusion.
• An Employer Appreciation Breakfast and Roundtable, co-hosted by SSB and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS), was held October 10 and recognized 27 Minnesota employers who are leading the way with exemplary hiring and retention practices.
• We’ll continue to share success stories from employers and employees throughout October.

– Carol Pankow, Assistant Commissioner of Workforce Services