East Hanover, NJ – November 6, 2026 – Nearly four in 10 working-age Americans with disabilities had a job in October, holding employment near the all-time high of 40.3 percent set in September, with the employment-to-population ratio at 39.9 percent. That steady performance came during a month in which the nation added 165,000 jobs, and the official unemployment rate edged down to 4.1 percent.
That's according to today's National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) Jobs Report, issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability . nTIDE tracks employment and labor force trends for people with and without disabilities.
"The growth in the labor market numbers for people with disabilities over the past several months has been phenomenal," said Andrew Houtenville, PhD , professor of economics and director of the UNH-IOD.
Employment for people with disabilities held near record levels in October.
Based on data from today's BLS Jobs Report and nTIDE analysis, the employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) decreased slightly from 40.3 percent in September 2026 to 39.9 percent in October 2026 (down 1.0 percent or 0.4 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the employment-to-population ratio increased slightly from 75.0 percent in September 2026 to 75.3 percent in October 2026 (up 0.4 percent or 0.3 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, is the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the total population, then multiplied by 100).
"The employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities held near record highs at 39.9 percent in October," said John O'Neill, PhD , director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation. "This sustained level may reflect more people with disabilities entering the labor market as families cope with inflation. That is particularly notable given the very high poverty rates among families that include a member with a disability," he added.
Month-to-Month nTIDE Numbers (comparing September 2026 to October 2026)
The labor force participation rate for people with disabilities (ages 16-64) decreased slightly from 43.8 percent in September 2026 to 43.3 percent in October 2026 (down 1.1 percent or 0.5 percentage points). For people without disabilities (ages 16-64), the labor force participation rate increased slightly from 78.1 percent in September 2026 to 78.3 percent in October 2026 (up 0.3 percent or 0.2 percentage points). The labor force participation rate reflects the percentage of people who are in the labor force (working, actively looking for work in the last four weeks, or on temporary layoff/furlough) relative to the total population (the number of people in the labor force divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100).
Year-to-Year Comparisons Are Not Available for October 2026
Because the federal government shutdown halted Current Population Survey (CPS) data collection in October 2025, year-over-year comparisons are not available this month. In October 2026, among workers ages 16-64, the 6,639,000 workers with disabilities represented 4.4 percent of the total 152,321,000 workers in the U.S.
Ask Questions about Disability and Employment
On the same day nTIDE is issued, the team hosts an nTIDE Lunch and Learn webinar. This live Zoom broadcast gives attendees a chance to ask questions about the latest findings, hear news and updates from the field, and learn from invited panelists who discuss current disability-related research and events.
On November 6, 2026, guest presenter David Xiao, a corporate disability leader and author of the LEADS Framework for Disability Inclusion, an open-access, employee-centered assessment tool for corporate disability inclusion, joins Drs. O'Neill and Houtenville, and Kimberly Knackstedt , executive director at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. Visit the nTIDE archives at ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE to see a recording of this nTIDE Lunch and Learn episode.
About National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE)
nTIDE is a joint effort of Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability. The nTIDE team tracks employment trends for people with and without disabilities and issues monthly reports that reflect the impact of economic changes on the workforce. These reports use data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics but are customized by UNH-IOD to focus on working-age adults (ages 16 to 64). nTIDE is funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR; 90RTGE0005) and Kessler Foundation.
About the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire
The Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire, founded in 1987, seeks to expand access and opportunity for people with disabilities in ways that strengthen communities locally and nationally. As part of a Carnegie Classification R1 university, the IOD accelerates disability inclusion through research, education, and collaboration. Its Center for Research on Disability delivers trusted analysis and tools that make disability data more accessible and actionable.
About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, founded in 1985, is a New Jersey-based nonprofit and global leader in rehabilitation research committed to changing the lives of people with disabilities. By conducting groundbreaking research, Kessler Foundation advances recovery and fosters independence to build a more inclusive and accessible world.
Our team of award-winning scientists develops and tests novel interventions to transform care and optimize mobility, cognition, and quality of life for people with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, and other neurological and developmental disabilities. By analyzing community and workforce participation, developing evidence-based solutions, and funding impactful community initiatives that expand employment opportunities, Kessler Foundation also addresses barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities.
