Voya Cares celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
By the numbers: People with disabilities in the workplace
Only 22.7% of adults with a disability are employed in the U.S. (compared to 65.5% of adults without a disability).2
The unemployment rate for adults with disabilities is 7.5%, more than double the rate for adults without disabilities (3.8%).2
Employees with disabilities and finances
49% of people with disabilities rated economic anxiety severe or high (vs. 29% rest of pop.).3
Daily expenses and debt concerns are rising
47% of people with disabilities are worried about getting out of debt and 69% live paycheck-to-paycheck.3
Retirement readiness
60% of people with disabilities are worried about having enough money to retire.3
Savings uncertainty
68% of people with disabilities say their debt has reduced their ability to save for retirement, while 56% say their retirement plan savings are the only significant emergency savings they have. 73% said they need help understanding how much they need to save for their retirement.4
How employers can support their employees with disabilities
Employees with disabilities said the following employer benefits would be most helpful in progressing toward their retirement goals:4
- Voluntary benefits, such as accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, pet, legal, disability insurance, etc.
- Employer support in student loan repayments
- Health Savings Account (HSA) with investment options
- Traditional or Roth 401(k)
- Workplace emergency savings option
- Employer match to your employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b), 457 or 401(a)
Resources and materials for employees with disabilities
Resources and materials for employers
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023; Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024; Fred Economic Data 2024
2. Kantar MONITOR 2024 (economic anxiety, living pay check-to-pay check, having enough to retire)
3. Voya Financial Consumer Insights & Research survey conducted January 21-22, 2025, among 1,005 adults aged 18+ in the U.S., featuring 148 people with disabilities. (debt)
4. Voya Financial Consumer Insights & Research survey conducted April 28-29, 2025, among 1,002 adults aged 18+ in the U.S., featuring 150 people with disabilities. (list of how employers can support)