Unemployment on Young people with disabilities (Labour Day 2025)

Young people with disabilities in the European Union continue to face notable disadvantages in the labour market, according to the latest figures from Eurostat.

Although the European statistics agency does not provide youth unemployment rates disaggregated by disability status, broader trends in employment paint a clear picture of disparity. In 2022, the employment rate among persons with disabilities across the EU stood at just 50.6%, compared to 74.8% for those without disabilities — a stark gap of 24.2 percentage points.

Disability among young people — defined by Eurostat as long-term limitations in usual activities — affects 9.5% of those aged 16 to 29. However, this figure varies widely depending on income. Young people in the lowest income quintile were more than twice as likely to report a disability (12.9%) as those in the highest income bracket (5.9%).

The data underscore the compounded challenges faced by young people with disabilities, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, as they attempt to enter the workforce.

While more granular data on youth unemployment by disability status remains limited, the trends suggest a pressing need for targeted policies and inclusive labour practices.