Just 16% of People who are Blind or Vision Impaired in Ireland are Working

Over the past several months we have seen a steady drop in the general unemployment in Ireland with rate reaching 6.2%.

We are ahead of the curve within the Euro Zone which maintains an average of 9.3% in April. However a closer look at these rates at home shows that 84% of working age people with sight loss in Ireland are unemployed.

There are 51,718 people (Census 2011) who are blind or vision impaired in Ireland and only 16% are in employment. Although unemployment rates among people with disabilities tends to be higher in other countries, the rate in Ireland is unacceptable according to Chris White CEO, National Council for the Blind

For example, in the UK, 41% of people with sight loss are in employment. In Australia, it’s 36% and in Canada it’s 33%. So Ireland can and must do better.

The NCBI focus for 2017 and beyond is on reducing the 84% unemployment rate among working age people with sight loss in Ireland. The NCBI will partner with leading Irish companies to kick start a systemic change around recruitment, retention and talent management in Ireland.

Over the next two years NCBI will work alongside Fujitsu, Insurance Ireland, Specsavers and other innovative companies to challenge employment trends and to better support blind and vision impaired people into meaningful employment.

Sight loss impacts on every area of a person’s life. Naturally there are emotional consequences in learning to come to terms with sight loss, but there are also practical and financial implications.
Employment gives people a sense of inclusivity and identity. It affords people financial independence and freedom it alleviates isolation and loneliness. It is vitally important for a person to feel that they are making a worthwhile contribution and employment is a key component to this.

Employers should ask themselves one question today. If faced with two candidates with the same qualifications and experience for the job, except one candidate has a vision impairment, who would you hire?

If you know of a company that would like to join the NCBI in changing how people with sight loss are included in the employment process please contact: Amie Hynes Fitzpatrick on 018307033 or email [email protected].