January 7, 2015

by: Emily Hastings

Report: People With Disabilities Paid A Third Less

Workers with disabilities earn 37 percent less than their typically-developing peers, on average, even in cases where they have similar levels of education, a new analysis finds.

In 2011, people with disabilities took in 63 cents for every dollar paid to workers without disabilities.

For those with a high school diploma, the wage gap amounted to $6,500 per year. The disparity rose to nearly $13,000 for those with a bachelor’s degree and over $20,000 for individuals with master’s or other more advanced degrees.

The findings come from an analysis of data from the U.S. Census that was conducted by the American Institutes for Research, a nonpartisan research firm.

“Although non-discriminatory compensation is protected through the Civil Rights, Americans with Disabilities and Rehabilitation Acts, our results show that earnings inequalities are gaping,” said Michelle Yin, an author of the report.

Due to the lower pay for workers with disabilities, the report finds that states and the federal government are losing out on as much as $31.5 billion in potential tax revenue.

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This article was shared from Disability Scoop
by Michelle Diament posted on January 6, 2015
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/01/06/report-paid-a-third-less/19942/

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