Work Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities: Employers' Perspectives

Unemployment is one of the significant challenges that persons with disabilities face to. The aim of the study was to analyze employers' views and opinions on hiring people with disabilities. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted within the qualitative research. This study explored barriers to employment for persons with disabilities in Georgia. According to the study, important obstacles are: faulty legislative base, not adapted and discriminatory physical environment, failure of inclusive education in every aspect, low level of public awareness on the skills and experience of persons with disabilities. The relationship between employers and persons with disabilities are based on employers' ethical norms and not regulated by law. There are no agencies, which would act as an intermediary between persons with disabilities and employer. The government should effort to create an enabling environment to increase the participation of persons with disabilities in economic activities. It is necessary to create information databases, through which employers could find persons with disabilities, collect information about their competencies and skills. Vocational schools should cooperate with employers and provide information about the competencies of persons with disabilities. The government should give some tax benefits to increase employer's incentives in hiring persons with disabilities.