Disability status and perceptions of employability by employers

The study discussed in this article used a correlational design to examine the discrepancies among employers' employability ratings of hypothetical la b applicants with different disability statuses. A survey packet was moiled to a random sample of 1,000 employers selected from a national membership list of human resources professionals. The survey included a standardized m easure for rating employers' impressions of lab applicants' employability w ith respect ta 22 key employment-related traits. Employers were asked to ra te the job applicants' suitability for employment in a hypothetical adminis trative assistant position. Findings show that job applicants without a dis ability received the highest mean employability ratings. Job applicants wit h an acquired brain injury were rated substantially the same as those with schizophrenia, implications for social work practice and research are discu ssed.