Due to the current demands of our economy and Australia’s ageing population, many industries are now experiencing significant skill and labour shortages. Current shortages are highest in growth industries and predicated to intensify in coming years.

For current and future workforce needs, Global Skills Disability Employment Services (DES) can help your business access a large and diverse talent pool that is significantly under-represented in the Australian labour market.

People with disability possess a wide range of experiences, skills, abilities and qualifications with the ability to fill a wide range of jobs across all levels. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows 1 in 5 Australians have a disability and 2.1 million people with disability are of working age. Less than half of those are currently employed.

There is a strong business case for employing people with disability. Research has shown people with disability are:

• Reliable – people with disability take fewer days off, take less sick leave and have a higher retention rate than other workers. The costs to business of absenteeism and sick leave for employees with disability can be as low as 34 per cent of the cost incurred by their co-workers.
• Affordable – insurance cover and compensation costs are lower. People with disability have fewer compensation incidents and accidents at work in comparison to other employees. Global Skills offers a zero-cost recruitment service for employers looking to hire a person with disability and employer incentives including wage subsidies to support with training and up-skilling in the initial stages of employment.
• Good for business – people with disability build strong relationships with customers and boost staff morale and loyalty by fostering a diverse workforce. Teamwork is enhanced. Real cost savings are realised through reduced turnover, recruitment and retraining costs. Hiring people with disability contributes to the organisation’s overall diversity. It enhances the company’s internal reputation among its staff, community and customers with positive benefits to the employer’s brand.
• Reflective of the wider community – employing people with disability can ensure that your team best reflects the community in which it operates. 1 in 5 of your customers will have a disability. In addition, your new employee can help you understand and better serve the needs of people with disability in the community.

For the benefit of your business including the ability to secure workers in the future, inclusion of people with disability as potential employees is a great way to find hidden talent. If you are unsure where to start, Global Skills can help.

Global Skills DES offers a free, professional, positive and efficient service to help businesses hire people with disabilities. We can save you time and money in the recruitment and retention of high-quality employees.

We offer:

• Professional recruitment advice and job matching
• Help with job design for employees with disability
• On-the-job or off-site support to ensure new employees with disability settle into their job
• Ongoing support for as long as it is required, for employees and employers who require support to maintain their employment
• Taining information and awareness activities for employers and staff
• Help to access a range of financial support, such as workplace modifications, assistive technology, disability awareness training and wage subsidies.

You can access Global Skills DES service through our Cabramatta, Fairfield, Wetherill Park, Katoomba, Penrith, St Marys and Windsor offices.

For more information on employer support go to https://www.globalskills.com.au/employers/

You can also call our Customer Support Centre team between the hours of 8.45am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, by phone: 02 4732 1469 or email: support@globalskills.com.au to be connected with our DES team or Employer Liaison Consultants.

Sources: Australian Safety & Compensation Council report “Are People with disability at Risk at work? May 2007, International Labor Office “Disability in the workplace: Company practices” 2010,  AIHW ‘People with Disability in Australia’ Australian Government, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, AIHW (Web Report, 2 October 2020). AHRC: Guidelines for the targeted recruitment of people with disability Nov 2022, Australian Network on Disability.