Self-employment among people with disabilities: evidence for Europe

This paper examines the use of self-employment among people with disabilities in Europe. Using data from the European Community Household Panel for the period 1995-2001 for 13 European countries we found that people with disabilities were more likely to be self-employed than people without disabilities. Self-employment provides flexibility and a better adjustment between disability status and working life. Moreover, the levels of satisfaction with job, type of job and working conditions of self-employed disabled people are higher than those reported by disabled people who are wage and salary earners. Policy-makers must encourage self-employment to increase the levels of well-being and employment of people with disabilities in Europe.