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

VARIABLES	FREQUENCY (n)	PERCENT (%)
Place where you grew up
Urban	344	43.9
Rural	303	38.6
Both rural and urban	137	17.5
Age/year	Median ± SD 33 ± 8.3
21–28 years old	204	26.0
28–33 years old	214	27.3
33–40 years old	193	24.6
40–62 years old	173	22.1
Gender
Male	526	67.1
Female	258	32.9
Current marital status
Married	451	57.5
Single	305	38.9
Others (separated, widowed, and divorced)	28	3.6
Living conditions
With spouse and/or children	318	40.6
With parents/family/relatives	115	14.7
Living with others in a shared room	7	0.9
Live alone	143	18.2
Question items	Yes n (%)	No n (%)
Presence of personal assistance at home	305 (38.9)	479 (61.1)
Did your assistant have any impairment/s?	9 (1.1)	296 (37.8)
Opportunity to receive government financial assistance	254 (32.4)	521 (66.5)

Table 2

Types and level of disability as reported by participants.

TYPES AND LEVEL OF DISABILITY	FREQUENCY (n)	PERCENT (%)
Visual Impairment	288	36.7
Total blindness	211	26.9
Partially sighted without visual aids	40	5.1
Partially sighted with visual aids	37	4.7
Hearing Impairment	32	4.1
Profoundly deaf	17	2.2
Hard of hearing without hearing aids	11	1.4
Hard of hearing with hearing aids	5	0.6
Motor Difficulty	464	59.2
Physical disability, using wheelchair for most or all mobility	28	3.6
Physical disability, requiring aids for independent mobility (e.g., brace, prosthetic device, crutch)	204	26.0
Physical disability, not requiring mobility aids	237	30.2
More than one Impairment	5	0.6
Visual impairment and motor difficulty	4	0.5
Visual impairment, hearing impairment, and motor difficulty	1	0.1

Table 3

Self-reported onset and causes of impairment.

VARIABLES	FREQUENCY (n)	PERCENT (%)
Time impairment first occurred
Acquired	700	89.3
Congenital	84	10.7
Presence of additional impairments?
Yes	18	2.3
No	766	97.7
Cause of impairments
1. Accident (n = 261)
Accident around residential areas	185	23.6
Accident at workplace	15	1.9
Car accident	22	2.8
War/conflict	31	4.0
Accident around home/residential area and disease/illness	8	1.0
2. Disease and related causes (n = 343)
Disease/illness	292	37.2
Medical error/complication	13	1.7
Light reflection (local word ‘Mich’)	17	2.2
Vetch (local word ‘Guaya’)	21	2.7
3. Unknown causes (n = 180)	180	23.0

First and second cycle school type attended by participants.

Educational status of the study participants.

Table 4

The most challenging aspects of the job securing process.

VARIABLES	FREQUENCY RESPONSES n (%)
Process of securing a meaningful job for PWD in Ethiopia	Easy	7 (0.9)
	Average	75 (9.6)
	Challenging	280 (35.7)
	Very challenging	422 (53.8)
Job securing process challenges	1^st choice	2^nd choice	3^rd choice
Discriminatory content of vacancy announcements	313 (39.9)	143 (18.2)	132 (16.8)
Inaccessibility of available vacancy announcements	92 (11.7	138 (17.6)	154 (19.6)
Information gap on available vacancies	116 (14.8)	116 (14.8)	128 (16.3)
Lack of job opportunities in the field	49 (6.3)	67 (8.5)	93 (11.9)
Lack of job search skills (CV writing, interviewing, etc.) and Lack of self-motivation to search	30 (3.8)	76 (9.7)	95 (12.1
Negative attitude of employers	102 (13.0)	162 (20.7)	100 (12.8)

Table 5

Employment history and current employment status of PwDs.

VARIABLES	FREQUENCY (n)	PERCENT (%)
Unemployment experiences (before securing your current job for at least 3 months and above)
Yes	440	56.1
No	344	43.9
Number of previous jobs
0	459	58.5
1	191	24.4
2	65	8.3
≥3	69	8.8
Reasons for leaving your previous job
Discrimination in the workplace and related reasons	16	2.0
Dissatisfied with salary and benefits	37	4.7
Poor accommodation	16	2.0
Working experience at current job
Mean (95%CI)	6.96 (6.51–7.42)
<3 years	260	33.2
3–5 years	159	20.3
5–9 years	176	22.4
>=9 years	189	24.1
Monthly salary (gross) in Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
Mean (95% CI)	6073.0 (6360.53–7055.56)
<4000 ETB	222	28.3
4000–6000 ETB	161	20.5
6000–8000 ETB	187	23.9
>=8000 ETB	214	27.3
Did you receive any special training at the end of university education?
Yes	90	11.5
No	681	86.9
Not applicable	13	1.7
Types of special training (n = 90)
Job hunting, resume preparation/CV writing, and job interview skills	24	3.1
Resume preparation/CV writing	32	4.1
Resume preparation/CV writing and job interview skills	34	4.3
Question Items	Yes n (%)	No n (%)
Did you receive sufficient support and guidance from graduate university in the job search process?	395 (50.4)	389 (49.6)
Were there specific occasions or times that you felt frustrated or lost hope in securing a job?	482 (61.5)	302 (38.5)
Have you ever needed to negotiate with an employer regarding workplace accommodations?	420 (53.6)	364 (46.4)
Did you receive any assistance with those negotiations from the respective department in your organizations?	76 (9.7)	344 (43.9)
Did you take advantage of any special programs to facilitate job access?	41 (5.2)	743 (94.8)

Perceived intersectionality between job search success and sex, residence, disability type, and school type attended.

Leadership participation of study participants.

Table 6

Cross-tabulations of some socio-demographic variables and types of disabilities.

VARIABLES		TYPES OF IMPAIRMENTS n (%)				χ² VALUE
VARIABLES		VISUAL	HEARING	MOTOR	≥ONE	χ² VALUE
Age categories (in years)	21–28	71 (9.1)	14 (1.8)	119 (15.2)	0	9.08
	28–33	78 (9.9)	8 (1.0)	126 (16.1)	2 (0.3)
	33–40	72 (9.2)	7 (0.9)	113 (14.4)	1 (0.1)
	40–62	62 (7.9)	3 (0.4)	106 (13.5)	2 (0.3)
Educational status	Diploma	42 (5.4)	11 (1.4)	143 (18.2)	3 (0.4)	28.96**
	First degree	218 (27.8)	20 (2.6)	291 (37.1)	2 (0.3)
	Master degree	23 (2.9)	1 (0.1)	30 (3.8)	0
Unemployment history (in months)	<6	68 (15.5)	10 (2.3)	87 (19.8)	0	22.94**
	6–12	52 (11.8)	3 (0.7)	88 (20.0)	1 (0.2)
	12–18	7 (1.6)	1 (0.2)	22 (5.0)	0
	≥18	19 (4.3)	5 (1.1)	75 (17.0)	2 (0.5)
Leadership position	No position	248 (31.6)	27 (3.4)	381 (48.6)	4 (0.5)	16.53*
	Higher	5 (0.6)	0	10 (1.3)	1 (0.1)
	Low level	22 (2.8)	3 (0.4)	39 (5.0)	0
	Middle level	8 (1.0)	2 (0.3)	34 (4.3)	0
Gender	Male	192 (24.5)	19 (2.4)	312 (39.8)	3 (0.4)	1.05
Gender	Female	91 (11.6)	13 (1.7)	152 (19.4)	2 (0.3)	1.05

[i] Note: *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.

Table 7

Workplace accommodations and reported overall need/provision.

ACCOMMODATION ITEMS	RESPONSES n (%)
ACCOMMODATION ITEMS	NEEDED BUT NOT PROVIDED	NEEDED AND PROVIDED	NOT NEEDED
Make necessary office facilities (e.g., office space, furniture, computer accessible)	468 (59.7)	293 (37.4)	23 (2.9)
Restructure job (redistributing job among coworkers or reassigning in accessible site)	358 (45.7)	281 (35.8)	145 (18.5)
Modify or allow flexible work hours	383 (48.9)	183 (23.3)	218 (27.8)
Modify or allow flexible training hours	476 (60.7)	112(14.3)	196 (25.0)
Make a reassignment into a vacant position	403 (51.4)	240 (30.6)	141 (18.0)
Acquire/modify equipment or devices (computer with JAWS, braille, hearing aid, mobility assistive, etc.)	548 (69.9)	119 (15.2)	117 (14.9)
Acquire/modify examination or training materials, work documents	418 (53.3)	259 (33.0)	107 (13.6)
Provide qualified readers/sign language interpreters	303 (38.6)	92 (11.7)	389 (49.6)
Provide personal assistance at office	359 (45.8)	106 (13.5)	319 (40.7)
Being flexible with human resource policies	531 (67.7)	169 (21.6)	84 (10.7)
Change supervisory methods (performance evaluation standard, threshold variation, etc.)	479 (61.1)	207 (26.4)	98 (12.5)
Transportation accommodations or provide parking	667 (85.1)	55 (7.0)	62 (7.9)
Modify the work physical environment (campus, roadways, office, toilet, etc.)	598 (76.3)	133 (17.0)	53 (6.8)

Table 8

Cross-tabulation of list of accommodations by sex of participants.

ACCOMMODATIONS		GENDER		TOTAL	χ² TEST	P-VALUE
ACCOMMODATIONS		MALE	FEMALE	TOTAL	χ² TEST	P-VALUE
Make necessary changes to office facilities	Needed but not provided	301 (38.4)	167 (21.3)	468 (59.7)	4.13	0.13
Make necessary changes to office facilities	Needed and provided	208 (26.5)	85 (10.8)	293 (37.4)	4.13	0.13
Job restructuring	Needed but not provided	234 (29.8)	124 (15.8)	358 (45.7)	0.90	0.63
Job restructuring	Needed and provided	192 (24.5)	89 (11.4)	281 (35.8)	0.90	0.63
Modified or flexible working hours	Needed but not provided	244 (31.1)	139 (17.7)	383 (48.9)	4.88	0.08
Modified or flexible working hours	Needed and provided	124 (15.8)	59(7.5)	183 (23.3)	4.88	0.08
Modified or flexible training hours	Needed but not provided	307 (39.2)	169 (21.6)	476 (60.7)	3.81	0.15
Modified or flexible training hours	Needed and provided	81 (10.3)	31 (4.0)	112 (14.3)	3.81	0.15
Making vacancy reassignment	Needed but not provided	265 (33.8)	138 (17.6)	403 (51.4)	1.66	0.43
Making vacancy reassignment	Needed and provided	160 (20.4)	80 (10.2)	240 (30.6)	1.66	0.43
Acquiring/modifying equipment or devices	Needed but not provided	365 (46.6)	183 (23.3)	548 (69.9)	.560	0.75
Acquiring/modifying equipment or devices	Needed and provided	79 (10.1)	40 (5.1)	119 (15.2)	.560	0.75
Acquiring/modifying examination or training materials	Needed but not provided	269 (34.3)	149 (19.0)	418 (53.3)	4.06	0.13
Acquiring/modifying examination or training materials	Needed and provided	186 (23.7)	73(9.3)	259 (33.0)	4.06	0.13
Qualified readers/sign language interpreters	Needed but not provided	208 (26.5)	95 (12.1)	303 (38.6)	0.58	0.74
Qualified readers/sign language interpreters	Needed and provided	60 (7.7)	32 (4.1)	92 (11.7)	0.58	0.74
Personal assistance at office	Needed but not provided	224 (28.6)	135 (17.2)	359 (45.8)	7.67	0.02
Personal assistance at office	Needed and provided	71 (9.1)	35 (4.5)	106 (13.5)	7.67	0.02
Flexible human resource policies	Needed but not provided	350 (44.6)	181 (23.1)	531 (67.7)	1.06	0.58
Flexible human resource policies	Needed and provided	117 (14.9)	52 (6.6)	169 (21.6)	1.06	0.58
Change supervisory methods	Needed but not provided	313 (39.9)	166 (21.2)	479 (61.1)	1.84	0.34
Change supervisory methods	Needed and provided	146 (18.6)	61 (7.8)	207(26.4)	1.84	0.34
Transportation accommodations or parking	Needed but not provided	438 (55.9)	229 (29.2)	667 (85.1)	4.52	0.10
Transportation accommodations or parking	Needed and provided	43 (5.5)	12 (1.5)	55 (7.0)	4.52	0.10
Modified the work physical environment	Needed but not provided	393 (50.1)	205 (26.1)	598 (76.3)	5.26	0.07
Modified the work physical environment	Needed and provided	90 (11.5)	43 (5.5)	133 (17.0)	5.26	0.07

Table 9

Cross-tabulation of accommodations by the educational status of the participant.

ACCOMMODATIONS		EDUCATIONAL STATUS n (%)			TOTAL n (%)	χ² TEST	p-VALUE
ACCOMMODATIONS		DIPLOMA	FIRST DEGREE	MASTER’S DEGREE	TOTAL n (%)	χ² TEST	p-VALUE
Make necessary office facilities	Needed but not provided	124 (15.8)	323 (41.2)	21 (2.7)	468 (59.7)	22.2	0.00**
Make necessary office facilities	Needed and provided	63 (8.0)	200 (25.5)	30(3.8)	293 (37.4)	22.2	0.00**
Job restructuring	Needed but not provided	110 (14.0)	234 (29.8)	14(1.8)	358 (45.7)	18.91	0.00**
Job restructuring	Needed and provided	52 (6.6)	202 (25.8)	27(3.4)	281 (35.8)	18.91	0.00**
Modify or flexible working hours	Needed but not provided	105 (13.4)	256 (32.7)	22(2.8)	383 (48.9)	4.67	0.32
Modify or flexible working hours	Needed and provided	48 (6.1)	119 (15.2)	16(2.0%)	183 (23.3)	4.67	0.32
Modify or flexible training hours	Needed but not provided	128 (16.3)	321 (40.9)	27(3.4%)	476 (60.7)	4.98	0.28
Modify or flexible training hours	Needed and provided	27 (3.4)	73 (9.3)	12(1.5)	112 (14.3)	4.98	0.28
Making vacancy reassignment	Needed but not provided	121 (15.4)	262 (33.4	20(2.6	403 (51.4)	13.02	0.01*
Making vacancy reassignment	Needed and provided	52 (6.6)	166 (21.2)	22(2.8)	240 (30.6)	13.02	0.01*
Acquire/modify equipment or devices	Needed but not provided	131 (16.7)	383 (48.9)	34(4.3)	548 (69.9)	11.45	0.02*
Acquire/modify equipment or devices	Needed and provided	26 (3.3)	80 (10.2)	13(1.7	119 (15.2)	11.45	0.02*
Acquire/modify examination or training materials	Needed but not provided	111 (14.2)	287 (36.6)	20(2.6)	418(53.3)	12.80	0.01*
Acquire/modify examination or training materials	Needed and provided	54 (6.9)	183 (23.3)	22(2.8)	259 (33.0)	12.80	0.01*
Qualified readers/sign language interpreter	Needed but not provided	60 (7.7)	221 (28.2)	22(2.8)	303 (38.6)	24.06	0.00**
Qualified readers/sign language interpreter	Needed and provided	13 (1.7)	68 (8.7)	11(1.4)	92 (11.7)	24.06	0.00**
Personal assistance at office	Needed but not provided	97(12.4)	236 (30.1)	26(3.3)	359 (45.8)	8.65	0.07
Personal assistance at office	Needed and provided	18 (2.3)	76 (9.7)	12(1.5)	106 (13.5)	8.65	0.07
Flexible human resource policies	Needed but not provided	131 (16.7)	366 (46.7)	34(4.3)	531 (67.7)	2.37	0.67
Flexible human resource policies	Needed and provided	42 (5.4)	113 (14.4)	14(1.8)	169 (21.6)	2.37	0.67
Change supervisory methods	Needed but not provided	118 (15.1)	334 (42.6)	27(3.4)	479 (61.1)	7.65	0.11
Change supervisory methods	Needed and provided	48 (6.1)	140 (17.9)	19(2.4)	207 (26.4)	7.65	0.11
Transportation accommodations or parking	Needed but not provided	165 (21.0)	459 (58.5)	43(5.5)	667 (85.1)	10.61	0.03*
Transportation accommodations or parking	Needed and provided	15 (1.9)	31 (4.0)	9(1.1)	55 (7.0)	10.61	0.03*
Modify the work physical environment	Needed but not provided	149 (19.0)	407 (51.9)	42(5.4)	598 (76.3)	3.10	0.54
Modify the work physical environment	Needed and provided	37 (4.7)	90 (11.5)	6(0.8)	133 (17.0)	3.10	0.54

[i] Note: *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.

Table 10

The most inaccessible items relative to the personal needs of respondents (n = 784).

INACCESSIBLE ITEMS RELATIVE TO PERSONAL NEEDS	FREQUENCY RESPONSE n (%)
INACCESSIBLE ITEMS RELATIVE TO PERSONAL NEEDS	1^st CHOICE		2^nd CHOICE		3^rd CHOICE		TOTAL
Cafeteria and other recreational centers	26	(3.3)	56	(7.1)	63	(8.0)	145	(18.4)
Gates/doorways/ramps/elevators/stairs	175	(22.3)	132	(16.8)	52	(6.6)	359	(45.7
Meeting halls/conference rooms	11	(1.4)	20	(2.6)	51	(6.5)	82	(10.5)
Office equipment availability	169	(21.6)	88	(11.2)	83	(10.6)	340	(43.4)
Supervisor office	32	(4.1)	37	(4.7)	41	(5.2)	110	(14.0)
Toilets	130	(16.6)	157	(20.0	117	(14.9)	404	51.5
Walkways	113	(14.4)	100	(12.8)	113	(14.4)	326	(41.6)
Workstation (e.g., upper floor, spacing, seating)	54	(6.9)	81	(10.3	71	(9.1)	206	(26.3)
None	74	(9.4)	113	(14.4)	193	(24.6)	380	(48.5)

References

Authors

Metrics

Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16993/sjdr.1219 | Journal eISSN: 1745-3011

Journal RSS Feed

Language: English

Page range: 664 - 683

Submitted on: Oct 22, 2024

Accepted on: Nov 12, 2025

Published on: Nov 27, 2025

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

reasonable accommodation,

higher education,

social model,

policy implementation,

Ethiopia

© 2025 Tsega Hagos Mirach, Rosemary M. Lysaght, Molalign Belay Adugna, Abebe Assefa Alemu, Meseret Hassen Ayele, Sewbesew Yitayih Tilahun, Tewelde Gebremariam Adhanom, Abayneh Gujo Desta, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 27 (2025): Issue 1

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

Figures & Tables

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

Figure 1

Figure 2

Table 4

Table 5

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Table 6

Table 7

Table 8

Table 9

Table 10

Paradigm

My account