W. Roy Grizzard, Jr.
Assistant Secretary, U. S. Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
“Connections: People – Employers – Resources”
Broward Business Leadership Network Career Fair
Employer and Exhibitor Breakfast
Davie, Florida
October 10, 2006
Good morning. Thank you for inviting me to talk about my favorite subject – the importance of recruiting, hiring, promoting, and retaining people with disabilities.
As you know, October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Each year the Secretary of Labor selects a national theme to highlight the capabilities of workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “Americans with Disabilities: Ready for the Global Workforce.”
At the Office of Disability Employment Policy, or ODEP, as we call it, we have a number of initiatives focused on connecting people, employers and resources in order to open doors to the global workforce for persons with disabilities.
ABOUT ODEP
ODEP is an agency of the U. S. Department of Labor. Our vision is “a world in which people with disabilities have unlimited employment opportunities.”
ODEP develops policy, programs and demonstration projects to connect businesses with the talent they need to succeed.
For ODEP to make a difference, we know that we need to work in cooperation with a variety of partners -- service providers, educators, the workforce development system, to name just a few.
But, of critical importance is our work with businesses. It really doesn’t matter how many individuals are ready to work. There must be a demand for that supply.
BUSINESS CASE
According to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, between 2004 and 2014, almost 36 million people will have left their occupations and will need to be replaced. In addition, between 2010 and 2030 the workforce is expected to shrink by 10 percent.
Based on our research, we also know that the most prevalent business concerns are the following: (1) finding and hiring qualified employees, (2) finding employees with the right work ethic, and (3) managing costs and benefits. We have seen these concerns reinforced in subsequent studies.
We know that there are significant challenges ahead. Businesses must find ways to meet the challenges of an aging, shrinking labor force.
Today, people with disabilities are more educated and better prepared than ever before. People with disabilities, including those with the most severe disabilities, have the talents, experiences and creative problem-solving skills for which businesses are recruiting. Workers with disabilities have performance and retention ratings comparable to those without disabilities. Workplace accommodations are easy to make and cost effective.
YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES
Right now businesses have the opportunity to tap into a young and growing talent pool.
There are more educated and better prepared workers with disabilities than ever before. Do you know that nearly 10 percent of all undergraduates, or approximately 1.53 million students, report having one or more disabilities?
These young people represent our future, and the more we do to prepare them effectively for the workforce, the more successful we will be in the global economy.
Mentoring: One way to help prepare your future workforce is by mentoring young people with disabilities.
ODEP has developed a Mentoring Guide for young people with disabilities, and we supported the First National Conference on Mentoring for Youth with Disabilities – held just last month.
ODEP also supports Disability Mentoring Day -- A national community-based mentoring program that brings together youth with disabilities and businesses for a day of job shadowing and career exploration activities.
Internships: There’s no substitute for on-the-job experience. Students with disabilities should have internship opportunities to test their career interests, learn what goes on day-to-day at the workplace, and try out their skills.
Among ODEP’s initiatives in this area is the Workforce Recruitment Program.
The WRP provides pre-screened, qualified college students with disabilities the opportunity to obtain internships in both federal agencies and in businesses nationwide. In recent years, this program has provided summer work experience for more than 350 students each year.
Every employer in this room can take advantage of the WRP talent pool. The 2007 job candidates will be available in March, and I can assure you there will be candidates from Florida. You can get complete details by contacting us at WRP@dol.gov.
ODEP EMPLOYER RESOURCES
You also have available to you many community resources, some of whom are sitting in this very room. I encourage you to use these resources, but I’d also like to make you aware of two additional – and cost-free – resources that ODEP provides:
The Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network (EARN) (www.earnworks.com), which can assist you in locating qualified job candidates with disabilities, as well as answer questions related to disability and the workforce.
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) (www.jan.wvu.edu), which can work with you one-on-one to help you make workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities, as well as assist you in understanding the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE
ODEP is ready to help you win the competition for talent. As the first Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy, I would like to leave a legacy of engaging businesses as never before!
ODEP has initiated the Workforce Excellence Initiative (WEI). This initiative seeks to raise awareness among employers that hiring people with disabilities is good for business.
Through this initiative we recognize companies whose existing work on disability employment practices is a model for other employers.
Later this month, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, will present the New Freedom Initiative Award to four businesses whose practices and strategies embody the employment principles of the President’s New Freedom Initiative. This brings to 17 the number of businesses the Secretary has recognized since she implemented the award in 2002.
Through our Workforce Excellence Initiative, we also recognize companies that are willing to explore the integration of people with disabilities into recruitment and employment strategies.
We are also creating strategic alliances, both with businesses and organizations that represent businesses. Through these alliances we provide our alliance partners with information, guidance, and access to resources that will help them to recruit, hire, and advance workers with disabilities.
CONCLUSION
The BLN’s across the nation are leaders in articulating the business case for hiring employees with disabilities. I applaud the members of the Broward BLN for your commitment, and commend you for providing the venue to bring together businesses and job candidates with disabilities at this Second Annual Career Fair.
ODEP’s research has found that investing in workers with disabilities is a sound investment. I am confident that members of the BLN would agree, and I encourage each of the businesses participating in this Career Fair to make this important investment. Hiring people with disabilities is a win-win situation.
Thank you for your attention. I wish you a most successful event.
