1 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Persons with a Disability, 2017

Current Population Survey (CPS)

Division of Labor Force Statistics

News Release Date: June 21, 2018

Presentation for ODEP: June 25, 2018
2 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

The Current Population Survey (CPS)

 Monthly survey of about 60,000 households 

nationwide

 Universe: civilian noninstitutional population age 16 

and over

 Data on:

Labor force status

Demographic characteristics

Earnings

A number of other topics
3 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Disability Questions in the CPS

 Six questions to identify those with a disability added 

to the CPS in June 2008

 Including disability questions in the CPS is a joint 

effort between BLS and ODEP
4 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

The 6 Survey Questions

1. Is anyone deaf or does anyone have serious difficulty 

hearing?

2. Is anyone blind or does anyone have serious difficulty 

seeing even when wearing glasses?

3. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, 

does anyone have serious difficulty concentrating, 

remembering, or making decisions?
5 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

The 6 Survey Questions

(continued)

4. Does anyone have serious difficulty walking or climbing 

stairs?

5. Does anyone have difficulty dressing or bathing?

6. Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, 

does anyone have difficulty doing errands alone such as 

visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
6 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Older persons are more likely to have a 

disability (chart)

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

Total, 16 years

and over

Men, 16-64

years

Women, 16-

64 years

Total, 65 years

and over

Percent 2016 2017

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2016 and 2017 annual averages
7 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Older persons are more likely to have a 

disability (table)

Year

Total, 16 

years 

and over

Men, 

16-64 

years

Women, 

16-64 

years

Total, 65 

years 

and over

2016 11.8 7.7 7.7 29.6

2017 11.9 7.7 7.6 29.6

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2016 and 2017 annual averages
8 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

A greater proportion of persons with a disability 

are age 65 and over (chart)

0

25

50

75

100

With a disability With no disability

Percent 16 to 64 years 65 years and over

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
9 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

A greater proportion of persons with a disability 

are age 65 and over (table)

Age With a 

disability

With no 

disability

65 years and 

over

48 16

16 to 64 years 52 84

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
10 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Persons with a disability are less likely to be in 

the labor force (chart)

18.7

65.7

1.9

79.4 2.9

31.4

0.0

25.0

50.0

75.0

100.0

With a disability With no disability

Percent Employed Unemployed Not in the labor force

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
11 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Persons with a disability are less likely to be in 

the labor force (table)

Labor force 

status

With a disability With no 

disability

Not in labor 

force 79.4 31.4

Unemployed 1.9 2.9

Employed 18.7 65.7

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
12 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Labor force participation rate for those with a 

disability increased in 2017 (chart)

0.0

25.0

50.0

75.0

With a disability With no disability

Percent 2016 2017

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2016 and 2017 annual averages
13 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Labor force participation rate for those with a 

disability increased in 2017 (table)

Year With a disability With no 

disability

2016 20.0 68.5

2017 20.6 68.6

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2016 and 2017 annual averages
14 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Employment-population ratio for both groups 

increased in 2017 (chart)

0.0

25.0

50.0

75.0

With a disability With no disability

Percent 2016 2017

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2016 and 2017 annual averages
15 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Employment-population ratio for both groups 

increased in 2017 (table)

Year With a 

disability

With no 

disability

2016 17.9 65.3

2017 18.7 65.7

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2016 and 2017 annual averages
16 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Employment-population ratios by race, ethnicity, 

and disability status (chart)

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

White Black Asian Hispanic

Percent With a disability With no disability

NOTE: Persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity may be of any race

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
17 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Employment-population ratios by race, ethnicity, 

and disability status (table)

Disability 

status White Black Asian Hispanic

With a 

disability 19.1 15.4 16.2 19.8

With no 

disability 66.1 63.9 64.2 66.3

NOTE: Persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity may be of any race.

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
18 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Employment-population ratios by educational 

attainment (chart)

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

Total, 25

years and

over

Less than a

high school

diploma

High school

graduates,

no college

Some

college or

associate

degree

Bachelor's

degree and

higher

Percent With a disability With no disability

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
19 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Employment-population ratios by educational 

attainment (table)

Disability 

status

Total, 25 

years and 

over

Less 

than a 

high

school 

diploma

High 

school 

graduates, 

no college

Some 

college 

or 

associate 

degree

Bachelor’s 

degree 

and 

higher

With a 

disability 18.1 8.8 15.2 22.1 27.6

With no 

disability 68.5 53.5 63.0 69.8 75.6

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
20 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Percent distribution of employed persons by 

occupation and disability status (chart)

0 5 10 15 20 25

Production, transportation, and

material moving

Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance

Sales and office

Service

Professional and related

Management, business, and financial

operations

With a disability With no disability

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
21 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Percent distribution of employed persons by 

occupation and disability status (table)

Disability 

status

Management,

business, and 

financial 

operations 

Professional 

and related Service

Sales

and

office

Natural 

resources, 

construction,

and 

maintenance

Production, 

transportation, 

and material 

moving

With a 

disability 14.6 19.4 20.2 22.7 8.9 14.1

With no 

disability 16.6 23.3 17.3 21.9 9.3 11.6

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
22 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Percent distribution of employed persons by class 

of worker and disability status (chart)

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

Private wage and

salary

Government wage

and salary

Self-employed

Percent With a disability With no disability

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
23 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Percent distribution of employed persons by class 

of worker and disability status (table)

Disability 

status

Private 

wage and 

salary

Government 

wage and 

salary

Selfemployed

With a 

disability 74.9 14.4 10.6

With no 

disability 80.3 13.6 6.0

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
24 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Persons with a disability are more likely to work 

part time (chart)

32

17

68

83

0

20

40

60

80

100

With a disability With no disability

Percent Full time Part time

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
25 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Persons with a disability are more likely to work 

part time (table)

Full- and parttime status With a disability With no 

disability

Part time 32 17

Full time 68 83

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
26 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Persons employed part time for economic 

reasons by disability status (chart)

5

3

0

2

4

6

With a disability With no disability

Percent of total employed

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
27 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Persons employed part time for economic 

reasons by disability status (table)

Disability status Percent of employed

With a disability 5

With no disability 3

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
28 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Unemployment rate for persons with a disability 

declined in 2017 (chart)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

With a disability With no disability

Percent

2016 2017

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2016 and 2017 annual averages
29 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Unemployment rate for persons with a disability 

declined in 2017 (table)

Year With a 

disability

With no 

disability

2016 10.5 4.6

2017 9.2 4.2

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2016 and 2017 annual averages
30 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Unemployment rates by age and disability status, 

2017 (chart)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

16 and over 16 to 64 years 65 years and over

Percent With a disability With no disability

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
31 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Unemployment rates by age and disability status, 

2017 (table)

Disability

status

16 and 

over

16 to 64 

years

65 years 

and over

With a 

disability 9.2 10.0 5.5

With no

disability 4.2 4.2 3.3

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
32 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Proportion of persons not in the labor force who 

want a job by disability status, 2017 (chart)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

16 and over 16 to 64 years 65 years and over

Percent With a disability With no disability

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
33 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Proportion of persons not in the labor force who 

want a job by disability status, 2017 (table)

Disability 

status

16 and 

over

16 to 64 

years

65 years 

and over

With a 

disability 3 4 2

With no 

disability 7 10 2

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2017 annual averages
34 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Selected labor force indicators, persons with a 

disability, 2009-2017 (chart)

Labor force participation rate

Employmentpopulation ratio Unemployment rate

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2009-2017 annual averages
35 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Selected labor force indicators, persons with a 

disability, 2009-2017 (table)

Labor force 

indicator 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Labor force 

participation 

rate

22.4 21.8 20.9 20.6 20.3 19.5 19.5 20.0 20.6

Employmentpopulation ratio 19.2 18.6 17.8 17.8 17.6 17.1 17.5 17.9 18.7

Unemployment 

rate

14.5 14.8 15.0 13.4 13.2 12.5 10.7 10.5 9.2

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2009-2017 annual averages
36 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

CPS Disability Data Online

 Annual Disability news release: 

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.toc.htm

 Monthly employment data: Table A-6. Employment status of the 

civilian population by sex, age, and disability status, not seasonally 

adjusted http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t06.htm

 May 2012 CPS Disability supplement press release: 

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/dissup.toc.htm

 CPS Disability FAQ: http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsdisability_faq.htm

 Even more on Disability:

https://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics.htm#disability
37 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • bls.gov

Contact Information

Division of Labor Force Statistics

www.bls.gov/cps

www.bls.gov/cps/demographics.htm#disability

CPSInfo@bls.gov

202-691-6378

Kang.Janie-Lynn@bls.gov