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7 Economic and social costs of employment discrimination against Australians with disability

7.1 Economic costs

A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) estimates that almost $50 billion in GDP could be added to Australia’s economy in 2050 if Australia moved into the top eight OECD countries in employment of people with disability.[20] Research by Deloitte Access Economics indicates that a one-third reduction in the labour market participation rates and unemployment rates for people with, and without, disability would provide a $43 billion increase to Australia’s GDP over a decade.[21]

7.2 Social costs and impacts on individuals

Unequal participation in employment has high social costs.

45% of people with disability live on or near the poverty line, 2.5 times the rate of poverty experienced by the general population.[22]

Research by the Productivity Commission has found that people with disability are among the most disadvantaged in Australia.[23] Low participation rates of people with disability in the labour force results in reduced income and contributes to disadvantage among people with disability.[24]

[20] PricewaterhouseCoopers, Disability expectations: Investing in a better life, a stronger Australia (2011), p 26. At http://www.pwc.com.au/industry/government/assets/disability-in-australia.pdf (viewed 22 May 2015).

[21] Deloitte Access Economics The economic benefits of increasing employment for people with disability, p ii. At http://www.and.org.au/data/Conference/DAE_Report_8May.pdf (viewed 22 May 2015).

[22] PricewaterhouseCoopers, Disability expectations: Investing in a better life, a stronger Australia (2011), p 9. At http://www.pwc.com.au/industry/government/assets/disability-in-australia.pdf (viewed 22 May 2015).

[23] Productivity Commission, Disability Care and Support, Report No 54 (2011), p 111. At http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/disability-support/report (viewed 22 May 2015).

[24] R McLachlan, G Gilfillan and J Gordon, Deep and Persistent Disadvantage in Australia (Productivity Commission Staff Working Paper) (July 2013), p 139. At http://www.pc.gov.au/research/completed/deep-persistent-disadvantage (viewed 22 May 2015).