National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE)

About nTIDE Updates
Since 2013, Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s (UNH) Institute on Disability (IOD) have issued “National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) custom reports and complementary webinars covering employment data for Americans with and without disabilities.

nTIDE is a joint project co-authored by John O’Neill, PhD, director of the Employment and Disability Research Center at the Foundation and Andrew Houtenville, PhD, professor of economics and research director, UNH-IOD.

First Friday nTIDE Report
On the first Friday of every month (with rare exceptions), nTIDE experts release a data analysis report based on the monthly jobs report issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). nTIDE experts compare key economic unemployment indicators for working-age people (16-64) with and without disabilities, including:

Labor Force Participation Rate – the rate of how many people are actively employed or looking for work compared to the total population
Employment-to-Population Ratio – the percentage of people who are working compared to the total population

Within several hours after the BLS monthly jobs report is released, Kessler Foundation distributes the First Friday nTIDE report via national wire service and social media channels.

Adding a “Deeper Dive” nTIDE Report
As economic conditions altered by the COVID pandemic continue to evolve, nTIDE has modified its mid-month Lunch & Learn Webinar to include a “Deeper Dive,” during which nTIDE experts analyze disability employment measures for different sub-populations, including age, education, race, and disability type. Guest presenters provide additional insight. The Deeper Dive supersedes the mid-month nTIDE COVID Update, which was initiated during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020) when restrictions on economic activity in the U.S. precipitated an unprecedented rise in furloughs and people looking for work.

A Benchmark to Monitor Progress
nTIDE reports are followed by government agencies, policymakers, disability organizations, employers, and reporters. The semi-monthly reports have been cited by top-tier outlets including Bloomberg.com, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, and Fortune.

Free nTIDE Lunch & Learn Webinar Series
In conjunction with each nTIDE report, experts host a 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (ET) Lunch & Learn Webinar via Zoom featuring in-depth analyses and guest speakers who discuss current disability-related findings. The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) provides legislative updates on disability and highlights current programs on a monthly basis.

All are welcome to attend our live Lunch & Learn Webinars or visit the nTIDE archives at: ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE.

Listen to previously recorded nTIDE Lunch & Learn Webinars

Read nTide Press Releases

nTIDE is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR; 90RTGE0005) and Kessler Foundation.