East Hanover, NJ – August 7, 2026 – More people with disabilities were actively looking for work in July compared to June, while the number of people without disabilities seeking employment declined over the same period. These findings come from the July 2026 National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report issued today.

Issued monthly by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability, nTIDE tracks employment and labor force trends for people with and without disabilities.

Based on data from today’s BLS Jobs Report and nTIDE analysis, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased slightly from 38.0 percent in June 2026 to 38.3 percent in July 2026 (up 0.8 percent or 0.3 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio also increased slightly from 74.8 percent in June 2026 to 75.0 percent in July 2026 (up 0.3 percent or 0.2 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, is the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the total population, then multiplied by 100). 

“The employment-to-population ratio increased slightly, possibly reflecting the need employers have for additional hospitality workers during the summer vacation season,” said John O’Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation.
 

Month-to-Month nTIDE Numbers (comparing June 2026 to July 2026) 

Purple and mustard chart showing a month-to-month comparison of labor market indicators for people with and without disabilities
From June 2026 to July 2026, the employment-to-population ratio increased from 38.0 to 38.3 percent for people with disabilities and increased from 74.8 to 75.0 percent for people without disabilities. The labor force participation rate increased from 41.8 to 42.4 percent for people with disabilities and remained the same at 78.2 percent for people without disabilities.

 

More pronouncedly, the labor force participation rate for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 41.8 percent in June 2026 to 42.4 percent in July 2026 (up 1.4 percent, or 0.6 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate remained the same at 78.2 percent in June and July 2026. The labor force participation rate reflects the percentage of people who are in the labor force (working, actively looking for work in the last four weeks, or on temporary layoff/furlough) relative to the total population (the number of people in the labor force divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).

“With prices showing no signs of declining anytime soon, it is not surprising that people with disabilities are more likely to seek work these days, especially given they are more likely to experience poverty,” said Andrew Houtenville, PhD, professor of economics and director of the UNH-IOD. “When the labor force participation rate increases by more than the employment-to-population rate, we know that more people are actively looking for work,” he added.
 

Year-to-Year nTIDE Numbers (comparing July 2025 to July 2026)

A green and blue chart showing a year-to-year comparison of labor market indicators for people with and without disabilities.
From July 2025 to July 2026, the employment-to-population ratio increased from 37 to 38.3 percent for people with disabilities and decreased from 75.1 to 75 percent for people without disabilities. The labor force participation rate increased from 41.6 to 42.4 percent for people with disabilities and decreased from 78.5 to 78.2 percent for people without disabilities.


Compared with the same time last year, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 37.0 percent in July 2025 to 38.3 percent in July 2026 (up 3.5 percent or 1.3 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio slightly decreased from 75.1 percent in July 2025 to 75.0 percent in July 2026 (down 0.1 percent or 0.1 percentage points).

The labor force participation rate for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) increased from 41.6 percent in July 2025 to 42.4 percent in July 2026 (up 1.9 percent or 0.8 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate decreased from 78.5 percent in July 2025 to 78.2 percent in July 2026 (down 0.4 percent or 0.3 percentage points). 

In July, among workers ages 16-64, the 6,690,000 workers with disabilities represented 4.4 percent of the total 151,261,000 workers in the U.S.

Ask Questions about Disability and Employment
On the same day nTIDE is issued, the team hosts an nTIDE Lunch and Learn webinar. This live Zoom broadcast gives attendees a chance to ask questions about the latest findings, hear news and updates from the field, and learn from invited panelists who discuss current disability-related research and events.

On August 7, 2026, guest presenters Jeff Friedman and Javier Robles of Rutgers University join Drs. O’Neill and Houtenville, and Lillie Heigl, director of policy at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. Visit the nTIDE archives at ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE to see a recording of this nTIDE Lunch and Learn episode. 

About National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE)
nTIDE is a joint effort of Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability. The nTIDE team tracks employment trends for people with and without disabilities, issuing monthly reports that reflect the impact of economic changes on the workforce. These reports use data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) but are customized by UNH-IOD to focus on working-age adults (ages 16–64).
 
nTIDE is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR; 90RTGE0005) and Kessler Foundation.
 
About the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire
The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire expands access and opportunity for people with disabilities in ways that strengthen communities locally and nationally. As part of a Carnegie Classification R1 university, the IOD accelerates disability inclusion through research, education, and collaboration. Its Center for Research on Disability delivers trusted analysis and tools that make disability data more accessible and actionable.
 
About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, founded in 1985, is a New Jersey-based nonprofit and global leader in rehabilitation research committed to changing the lives of people with disabilities. By conducting groundbreaking research, Kessler Foundation advances recovery and fosters independence to build a more inclusive and accessible world.
 
Our team of award-winning scientists develop and test novel interventions to transform care and optimize mobility, cognition, and quality of life for people with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, and other neurological and developmental disabilities. By analyzing community and workforce participation, developing evidence-based solutions, and funding impactful community initiatives that expand employment opportunities, Kessler Foundation also addresses barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities.
 
Powered by a dedicated team of over 175 professionals funded by federal and state grants and private philanthropy, Kessler Foundation is redefining what is possible in rehabilitation care and recovery. For more information, visit kesslerfoundation.org.
 
Press Contact at Kessler Foundation:
Carmen Cusido, [email protected]
 
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