Only 9% of disabled people feel they can join sector workforce

Only 9% of disabled people feel they have the opportunity to take on a role in delivering sport or physical activity, compared to 24% of non-disabled people.

The figure comes from a new report by disability sport charity, Activity Alliance, which highlights how the sport and physical activity sector needs to “urgently address recruitment and retention strategies”.

Called Research into the workforce gap – Disabled people in the sport and physical activity workforce, the report showed that disabled people are half as likely to see ‘people like me’ working in sport and physical activity compared to their non-disabled peers.

The research provides three key headline recommendations: to provide more advice and guidance for employers, adopt a ‘flexible by default’ approach to job roles and to proactively identify and remove barriers that exist at all stages of the workforce journey.

The full report explores the sport and physical activity sector at large, as well as the different stages of being part of the workforce from joining through to moving on. It shows the importance of taking a person-centred approach throughout. A series of case studies have been published alongside the report, to highlight the many varied routes taken to get into the workforce. Most of those who took part were disabled employees, volunteers and employers.