EUROFOUND Study Highlights the Untapped Potential of Persons With Disabilities in the Labour Market

EUROFOUND Study Highlights the Untapped Potential of Persons With Disabilities in the Labour Market

In May 2025, EUROFOUND, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, published its annual report on Living and Working in Europe 2024. 

In this edition of the report, EUROFOUND underlined how, in order to overcome labour and skills shortages in Europe, engaging underutilised labour groups will be key, including people with disabilities, who continue to face significant barriers to participation. The study further notes that persons with disabilities face barriers to employment such as structural accessibility issues, gaps in inclusive employment policies, disability-related stereotypes.

According to the study, bringing more persons with disabilities into the labour market would not only help address the ongoing labour shortages crisis, but also significantly improve their quality of life – according to the 2024 Living and Working in the EU e-survey, respondents with disabilities consistently reported lower life satisfaction levels than those without disabilities between 2021 and 2024.

In addition, the report also notes that although efforts have been made to improve access to different benefits, particularly through digitalisation, streamlining applications for a part of the population, they have also created new challenges, particularly for older adults, people with disabilities and those with low digital literacy.

EUROFOUND “Living and Working in Europe 2024” study available here.