Bridging Employment Gaps: The Role of Telework in Employment Retention for Individuals with Disabilities

• In Event: Ensuring Access to Quality Jobs: Reducing Employment Gaps and Improving Supports

Abstract

This study investigates how telework contributes to employment retention among individuals with disabilities, with a particular focus on the moderating role of access to enabling technologies such as high-speed internet. Drawing on nationally representative data from the 2019 and 2021 November Supplements of the Current Population Survey (CPS), this paper addresses longstanding employment disparities that disadvantage individuals with disabilities, even as remote work opportunities expand.

I apply a Heckman two-step probit selection model to correct for potential sample selection bias, since employment retention is only observed for individuals who were part of the labor force. The first stage models labor force participation using individual and household characteristics, including the presence of young children as an exclusion restriction. The second stage models the likelihood of employment retention, defined as being employed in both 2019 and 2021, as a function of telework participation, disability status, internet access (wired and wireless), and relevant demographic and occupational controls. Interaction terms further test how telework effects vary by disability and internet access.

Preliminary findings suggest that telework significantly increases the probability of job retention for individuals with disabilities, particularly for those with access to reliable wired internet. However, the positive effects of telework are unevenly distributed across disability types and industries, reinforcing concerns about structural and technological barriers that limit equitable access to remote work opportunities.

This research advances the literature on workforce inclusion by focusing not just on access to employment but on the stability and continuity of that employment over time. It has important implications for digital equity and labor policy, suggesting that investments in telework infrastructure and broadband expansion may help narrow employment gaps for people with disabilities. The study also highlights the need for industry-specific strategies to ensure telework is a viable and sustainable option for marginalized workers.

Note: Data used in this study remain publicly available through the U.S. Census Bureau’s CPS data archive and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). No embargo or access restrictions currently apply.

Author

• Clement Mensah Damoah, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author