Hiring workers with disabilities brings diverse perspectives and skills to the workplace. However, research shows that many employers report challenges in hiring workers with disabilities, including having few applicants with disabilities applying to jobs, difficulty recruiting qualified candidates, and uncertainty around how to accommodate and the cost of accommodations. [1]  

These challenges have been echoed by the employers that have engaged with CCRW. According to a needs analysis of those engaged, employers are uncertain about how or where to recruit qualified candidates, with over half of employers reporting that there is not enough talent with disabilities applying to the positions they are posting. 

Through CCRW’s Untapped Talent job board, employers will be connected with over 6000 job-seeking candidates who have been supported by CCRW and are prepared to enter the workforce. After using CCRW’s services:  

• 85% of candidates felt prepared to write their cover letter and resume and take part in interviews  
• 82% of candidates felt confident interviewing for a job  
• 73% of candidates learned about accommodation options 
• 71% of candidates felt more confident discussing accommodations with a future employer  
• 78% of candidates felt prepared to enter a new workplace and start a job 
• 75% of candidates learned about the jobs that would be a good fit for them based on their skills  

Untapped Talent will complement the recruitment support CCRW already offers to inclusive employers, including the over 61% of surveyed employers who have engaged with CCRW for support in hiring candidates with disabilities. These employers received hiring support including: receiving resumes from CCRW (32.43%), hiring directly through CCRW (17.89%), and advertising positions to CCRW candidates (11.19%). Now, through Untapped Talent, inclusive employers will be able to: 

• Directly reach talent with disabilities who are qualified, interested, and job-ready 
• Showcase their commitment to accessibility and disability inclusion in the workplace 
• Manage job applications directly through Untapped Talent or enjoy Untapped Talent’s ability to direct jobseekers to their preferred application platform 
• Connect with jobseekers who qualify their organization for various hiring incentives, such as wage subsidies, access to disability training and resources, and financial support for securing accommodations 
• Prepare accessible job postings with the help of our AI, Inclusion Copilot, which can give suggestions on how to make job postings more inclusive 

Employers, don’t miss out on the opportunity to check out Untapped Talent. Untapped Talent will allow you to capitalize on CCRW’s expertise in accessible and inclusive employment. Connect with CCRW today to find your next hire! 

Additional Resources: 

Free resources to support jobseekers and workers with disabilities: https://ccrw.org/resources_category/job-seekers-and-workers-with-disabilities/  

Showing Your Skills: Resume eBook | Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (ccrw.org)  

Recruitment support for employers in our Disability Confidence Toolkit: Recruitment - CCRW-Disability Confidence 

5 Ways to Make Your Job Description Inclusive for People with Disabilities | Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (ccrw.org) 

References 

[1] Bonaccio, S., Connelly, C. E., Gellatly, I. R., Jetha, A., & Martin Ginis, K. A. (2020). The Participation of People with Disabilities in the Workplace Across the Employment Cycle: Employer Concerns and Research Evidence. Journal of Business and Psychology, 35(2), 135–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-018-9602-5