Workforce Transition and Job Accessibility among Ethiopian People with Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: In Ethiopia, people with disabilities (PwDs) face significant marginalization and barriers to employment, despite a legislative framework intended to guarantee their rights. A critical knowledge gap exists regarding the implementation of these policies and the lived experiences of highly educated PwD navigating the transition to work.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2021 with 784 university graduates with mobility and/or sensory impairments employed in the public sector. Data on socio-demographics, educational and employment histories, access to workplace accommodations, and perceptions of disability policies were collected via semi-structured questionnaires.

Results: Findings reveal a notable gap between policy intent and actual implementation. While participants held generally positive views of disability-related laws, over 60% reported significant frustration during their job search, citing discriminatory vacancy announcements and inaccessible application processes as key barriers. Although higher educational attainment was significantly associated with increased access to workplace accommodations, these provisions remained overwhelmingly insufficient. Critical accommodations like accessible transportation, physical modifications to the work environment, and adaptive equipment were identified as unmet needs by a large majority (68–85%) of respondents.

Conclusion: The study concludes that existing laws in Ethiopia have limited translation into equitable employment outcomes for graduates with disabilities. Systemic barriers to PwDs were identified, and these barriers were reported to perpetuate exclusion. Meaningful inclusion demands stricter enforcement of existing laws, deliberate efforts to eliminate attitudinal and environmental barriers, and a firm commitment to guaranteeing workplace accommodations as rights rather than privileges.