08/28/2026
Removing barriers to work and education is not only a matter of inclusionโit is an economic opportunity.
The updated NZIER report, Valuing Access to Work, commissioned by Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People, reveals the significant benefits Aotearoa New Zealand could gain by improving employment and educational opportunities for disabled people.
Currently:
โข Only 23.4% of disabled people are employed, compared with 69.3% of non-disabled people.
โข The unemployment rate is 12.6% for disabled peopleโmore than twice the 4.9% rate for non-disabled people.
โข 32% of disabled people have no qualifications, compared with 13% of non-disabled people.
NZIER estimates that:
๐ Reducing the unemployment rate among disabled jobseekers to the rate experienced by non-disabled people would increase GDP by approximately $578 million.
๐ Improving educational outcomes and increasing the productivity of disabled workers by just 2% would add another $132 million to GDP.
Beyond these economic gains, better access to work and education would mean higher household incomes, greater financial independence, reduced poverty, improved wellbeing, fewer skills shortages, and stronger communities.
The report does not suggest that every disabled person can or should work. It shows what becomes possible when people who want to work or pursue education are no longer held back by discrimination, inaccessible systems, inflexible workplaces, or insufficient support.
Progress requires coordinated action: accessible education and transportation, assistive technology, inclusive recruitment and retention, flexible and remote work options, stronger employer capability, and better coordination among health, education, and employment services.
At WKG Foundation, we believe that talent is everywhereโbut opportunity is not. Building accessible pathways to education, flexible work, entrepreneurship, and career transition benefits disabled people, employers, communities, and the wider economy.
Source: https://www.whaikaha.govt.nz/resources/strategies-and-studies/studies-and-reports/valuing-access-to-work-2025-update ๐