Increasing public sector employment of disabled people: consultation

Introduction

The Scottish Government wants to reduce the disability employment gap by at least half and has recognised that to achieve this the public sector needs to increase the number and proportion of disabled people it employs.

Action 29 of A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People notes:-

"Disabled people make up 20% of the population but only 11% of the private sector workforce and 11.7% of the public sector workforce. We will consult with disabled people's organisations ( DPOs) and public sector bodies around setting targets to redress this imbalance. "

This consultation aims to identify the best way to achieve our ambition of increasing the number of disabled people employed in the public sector. It seeks views on the best way to effect change and how we can know that this change is making a difference to the lives of disabled people in Scotland.

In doing so, it will set out suggestions for change which include potential options for different types of targets. Other proposals are of course, welcomed.

The consultation highlights the fact that a lack of robust data on disability employment levels in individual public bodies creates a challenge for the setting and monitoring of targets, and again we welcome respondents' views on how this could be addressed.

It further seeks views on actions other than targets that public bodies can take to increase the number and proportion of disabled people in their workforces.

In summary, this consultation will focus on:-

• What the Scottish public sector landscape looks like, the information we have about disability employment in the public sector, and the powers the Scottish Government has to set targets if required ( Chapter 1);
• Options for different types of targets that could be set ( Chapter 2);
• Other measures that could be used to increase the employment of disabled people in the public sector ( Chapter 3);
• Monitoring and reporting ( Chapter 4);
• How you can engage with us on the questions and issues set out in this consultation, including information about events we will hold; events you/your organisation can hold; and how to respond to the consultation ( Chapter 5 and 6).