Approximately 20% of businesses lack employment of individuals with disabilities

Breaking Down Barriers: Thuringia's Ailing Inclusive Labor Market

Chatting casually, let's discuss Thuringia's less-than-stellar compliance with employing individuals with disabilities. It turns out, more than one out of five employers isn't meeting their legal obligation—around 20.8 percent of employment-bound businesses left 2023 without any disabled staffers on their payroll (according to the Federal Employment Agency's regional office). A decade ago, that figure was slightly higher, at 21.1 percent.

Now, what's the big deal, you ask? Companies that shirk their duties face a compensation fee. And it's not chump change. The size of the company and the employment quota factor into the fee, which can reach a whopping 720 euros a month come 2024, thanks to new regulations (effective January 1, 2024).

So, what's the situation in Thuringia right now? Approximately 25,000 people with disabilities held a job in social insurance in 2023. Notably, over 79 percent of these individuals were aged 45 or above. Predominantly, they worked in manufacturing, government admin, or the social/health sector.

However, progress towards fulfilling the duty to employ people with disabilities has been sluggish. When measured against all employment-bound Thuringian businesses, only about 44.9 percent of the legal obligation had been met in 2023—a figure that was 44 percent the previous year and 46.4 percent a decade ago. What's more, around 34.3 percent at least partially fulfilled their employment obligation in 2023, compared to 32.4 percent ten years ago. This already means that these employers have only filled a portion of the legally mandated positions with disabled workers.

According to Markus Behrens, chairman of the management of the regional office, fostering the inclusion of disabled individuals in the workforce is an ever-growing necessity due to demographic shifts. Eliminating prejudices and facilitating a more integrated society hinges upon businesses receiving the right support. To achieve this, rehabilitation specialists are available as contact points within every local employment agency. Besides, there's a wealth of funding instruments—from qualifications to wage subsidies to technical equipment—all tailored to aid companies in realizing an inclusive work environment.

Of course, these are broad strokes and details may vary among regions. To uncover more specific support and funding avenues available in Thuringia, it's advisable to delve into regional government resources or consult employment agencies in the area. After all, a more inclusive and diverse workforce benefits everyone! 🌟

To ensure a more integrated society and meet Thuringia's policy-and-legislation requirements, businesses can tap into resources such as vocational training programs and rehabilitation specialists available within local employment agencies, which offer a range of funding instruments including qualifications, wage subsidies, and technical equipment to facilitate the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the workforce.
A closer look at Thuringia's community policy reveals an underwhelming commitment to employing individuals with disabilities, with a majority of disabled workers concentrated in manufacturing, government admin, or the social/health sector, and employers largely bypassing their legal obligation to hire disabled staff, evidenced by the fee-eligible companies accounting for 20.8% of employment-bound businesses in 2023.
Addressing the lackluster progress of the disabled labor market in Thuringia, a recently enacted policy calls for harsher penalties for non-compliant businesses, with fees amounting up to 720 euros per month as of 2024, putting extra pressure on the business sector to engage in inclusive hiring practices and expand vocational training opportunities for individuals with disabilities.