Disabled jobseekers don’t get the support they need from recruiters, survey finds

RA Now

The vast majority of disabled candidates have reported a poor experience with recruiters, due to a lack of recruiter knowledge, a survey suggests.

Eighty-two per cent of disabled candidates surveyed by the Clear Company on behalf of the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI), said they had a bad experience when looking for a job, with a further 50% saying they did not feel agencies understood their needs. Sixty-one per cent said recruiters lacked ‘disability confidence’.

The survey was unveiled at this year’s ‘Disability Confident Awards’ launched by RIDI, along with a number of industry representatives, and aimed at championing good practice in recruiting disabled candidates. Winners across 14 categories included Diversity Jobs, E.ON and Sainsbury’s.

“This year’s survey offers recruiters some valuable insights into what still needs to be tackled,” said Dan Biddle, member of the judging panel for the awards, and himself disabled during the London 7/7 bombings. “The good news is that 74% of recruiters reported they are confident they have the knowledge to support disabled candidates appropriately; but this research shows that disabled jobseekers want to see real evidence that actions have been taken by recruiters to deliver a first class candidate experience, including providing reasonable adjustments, for disabled people.” 

Mike Penning, minister of state for disabled people, added: “Employers and their talent providers all need to work together to ensure they follow these examples to be more inclusive not just in what they say, but in what they do. Actions do speak louder than words.”