You asked
With reference to the labour market statistics figures released in July (table 08 at http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-367096) and quoted by the work and pensions secretary in the House of Commons in September: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm150907/debtext/150907-0001.htm#1509074000012 (‘We have made huge strides in getting more people with disabilities back into work—I think the figure is now over 220,000, which I believe is the highest figure since records began…’)
This figure is said to refer to the increase in the number of disabled people in employment over the previous year. However, that figure also includes those in work experience or on work-related training, such as government training and employment programmes.
Therefore, could you please tell me:
How much of this increase was due to disabled people (those seen as disabled under the Equality Act) in permanent, paid employment, and how much was due to people on unpaid work experience or government-supported training and employment programmes?
Please also tell me the number of disabled people in permanent, paid employment in: Jan-Mar 2015; Jan-Mar 2014; Jan-March 2013; Jan-March 2012; Jan-March 2011; Jan-March 2010; and Jan-March 2009.
We said
Thank you for your email.
With reference to the statement 'which I believe is the highest figure since records began', employment statistics for disabled people should not be compared since records began as there have been a number of changes to the way we collect data on disabilities. For more information see the 'important note' attached to published table A08 of the Labour Market 'A08: Labour market status of disabled people'. (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/november-2015/table-a08.xls)
With regards to the breakdown of disabled people in employment into the requested sub-groups, there are no regularly produced tables published by the ONS that provide the information required. ONS can provide breakdowns from the LFS that are not published on our website, although there is a charge for this service.
The contact details for the social survey data service are: email: socialsurveys@ons.gov.uk
As an indication of the magnitute of the requested estimates, the overall number of people on Government Training Schemes and Employment Programmes as a proportion of employed people is relatively low and can be found in table three of the Labour Market release (web table EMP01, SA). For the latest period, July to September 2015, there were 31,211,000 people in employment, of which, 104,000 (0.33%) were on Government Training Schemes and Employment Programmes. The number of temporary workers relative to permanent workers is also low. For the latest period, there were 1,661,000 people in temporary work (5.3% of the total people in employment).