1 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Current Population Survey (CPS)

Persons with a

Disability, 2019

Division of Labor Force Statistics

News Release Date: February 26, 2020

Presentation for ODEP: March 9, 2020
2 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

 Monthly survey of about 60,000 households nationwide

 Universe: civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and older

 Data on:

Labor force status

Demographic characteristics

Earnings

A number of other topics

The Current Population Survey (CPS)
3 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

 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

The Current Population Survey (CPS)
4 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov 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 TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

The 6 Survey Questions

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 TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Older persons are more likely to have a disability

Total, 16 years

and older

Men, 16-64

years

Women, 16-64

years

Total, 65 years

and older

2018 11.7 7.4 7.5 28.9

2019 11.7 7.4 7.4 28.7

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2018-2019 annual averages
7 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

A greater proportion of persons with a disability 

are age 65 and older

With a disability With no disability

65 years and older 50 16

16-64 years 50 84

0

25

50

75

100

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
8 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Persons with a disability are less likely to be in 

the labor force

With a disability With no disability

Not in the labor force 79.2 31.3

Unemployed 1.5 2.4

Employed 19.3 66.3

0.0

25.0

50.0

75.0

100.0

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
9 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Labor force participation rate for those with a 

disability unchanged in 2019

With a disability With no disability

2018 20.8 68.4

2019 20.8 68.7

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2018-2019 annual averages
10 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Employment-population ratio little changed for 

those with a disability in 2019

With a disability With no disability

2018 19.1 65.9

2019 19.3 66.3

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2018-2019 annual averages
11 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Employment-population ratios by race, ethnicity, 

and disability status

White Black Asian Hispanic

With a disability 19.7 15.6 18.9 20.5

With no disability 66.6 64.9 64.7 67.7

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

Percent

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

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
12 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Employment-population ratios by educational 

attainment

Total, 25 

years and 

older

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High school, 

no college

Some 

college or 

associate 

degree

Bachelor's 

degree and 

higher

With a disability 18.6 9.1 15.5 22.1 28.2

With no disability 69.0 54.3 63.7 69.6 75.5

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
13 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Percent distribution of employed persons by 

occupation and disability status

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0

Production, transportation, and material moving

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance

Sales and office

Service

Professional and related

Management, business, and financial operations

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 14.5 8.4 22.3 20.7 18.5 15.6

With no disability 11.7 9.1 21.1 17.0 23.8 17.2

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
14 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Percent distribution of employed persons by class 

of worker and disability status

Private wage

and salary

Government

wage and

salary

Self-employed

workers

With a disability 76.6 13.3 10.0

With no disability 80.7 13.3 5.9

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

Percent

100.0

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
15 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Persons with a disability are more likely to work 

part time

With a disability With no disability

Part time 32 17

Full time 68 83

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
16 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Persons employed part time for economic 

reasons by disability status

With a disability 4

With no disability 3

0

2

4

6

Percent of total employed

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
17 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Unemployment rate for persons with a disability 

declined in 2019

With a disability With no disability

2018 8.0 3.7

2019 7.3 3.5

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2018-2019 annual averages
18 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Unemployment rates by age and disability status, 

2019

16 years

and older

16 to 64

years

65 years

and older

With a disability 7.3 8.0 4.3

With no disability 3.5 3.6 2.8

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
19 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Proportion of persons not in the labor force who 

want a job by disability status, 2019

16 years

and older

16 to 64

years

65 years

and older

With a disability 3 4 2

With no disability 6 9 2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
20 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Selected labor force indicators, persons with a 

disability, 2009-2019

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

16+ EP 19.2 18.6 17.8 17.8 17.6 17.1 17.5 17.9 18.7 19.1 19.3

16+ UR 14.5 14.8 15.0 13.4 13.2 12.5 10.7 10.5 9.2 8.0 7.3

16+ LFPR 22.4 21.8 20.9 20.6 20.3 19.5 19.5 20.0 20.6 20.8 20.8

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2009-2019 annual averages
21 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

CPS Disability Data online

 Annual Disability press release: 

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

 May 2012 CPS Disability supplement press release: 

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

 Monthly employment data (Table A6): 

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

 CPS Disability FAQ:

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsdisability_faq.htm 

 More on Disability:

http://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics.htm#disability 
22 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Division of Labor Force Statistics

Current Population Survey (CPS):

www.bls.gov/cps

CPS Demographics – Disability:

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

Email for CPS Information:

CPSInfo@bls.gov

Email Vernon Brundage:

Brundage.Vernon@bls.gov

Contact Information
1 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Persons with a disability ages 16-64 are less likely 

to be in the labor force

0.0

25.0

50.0

75.0

100.0

Percent

With a disability With no disability

Not in the labor force 66.4 22.7

Unemployed 2.7 2.8

Employed 30.9 74.6

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2019 annual averages
2 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Selected labor force indicators, persons with a 

disability ages 16-64, 2009-2019

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

16-64 EP 29.7 28.6 27.0 27.0 26.8 26.0 26.9 27.7 29.3 30.4 30.9

16-64 UR 15.6 15.7 16.2 14.6 14.7 13.9 11.7 11.5 10.0 8.7 8.0

16-64 LFPR 35.2 33.9 32.3 31.6 31.4 30.2 30.5 31.2 32.6 33.3 33.6

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

Percent

SOURCE: Current Population Survey, 2009-2019 annual averages