Halle/Erfurt (dpa/th) - Despite the lack of workers and skilled workers, people with disabilities in Thuringia find it difficult to find a job in companies. Employers have persistent prejudices related to the level of performance and protection against dismissal, said Markus Behrens, head of the Saxony-Anhalt-Thuringia regional office of the Federal Employment Agency, on Monday. However, companies would miss opportunities in personnel planning. According to Behrens, unemployed people with disabilities are often well qualified and particularly motivated.
According to the information, in 2022 an average of almost 77 percent of all severely disabled unemployed people in Thuringia had a vocational qualification or academic training. In relation to all unemployed in the Free State, this proportion was lower at 62 percent.
Behrens referred to funding opportunities for employers. The employment agencies in Thuringia made around 96 million euros available for the participation of people with disabilities in the labor market and in rehabilitation measures this year. This includes the technical equipment of workplaces for people with disabilities, training and further education or subsidies for employers.
According to the regional directorate, the number of unemployed people with severe disabilities in Thuringia fell by around 12 percent between 2017 and 2022. The total number of unemployed fell by 17 percent in the Free State during the period. In view of the demographic development, it is becoming increasingly important to promote and improve the participation of people with severe disabilities in working life, emphasized Behrens. The background is that due to the lack of births in Thuringia, there are not enough young people available for the job market. On the other hand, more and more people in the country are retiring.
