[nabs-l] unemployment rate

[Sean Whalen]

People who are not actively looking for employment are considered not to be
part of the labor force. 

 

Of course the 30% for nonblind folks' rate of nonparticipation is vastly
higher than the rate that would apply to only those, say, under 65.

 

Blind people with other disabilities are blind people too, so why shouldn't
we count them? Nonblind folks with other disabilities count in the general
unemployment and labor force nonparticipation rates. Sure, you could figure
out an unemployment rate for people who are blind and have no other
disabilities, but how is that instructive? You could also find the rate for
the blind people who have no additional disability, a college degree and
IQ's above the national average, but then you are hand selecting who you are
looking at and ignore the population as a whole.

 

I wouldn't trust numbers from AFB - they say there are 25 million blind or
visually impaired people in the US. Right. And NFB has 50,000 members.

 

Finally, related to the initial post, why does it matter how many of the
blind people with jobs work in the blindness field? That hearkens back to
the ridiculous notion that these are somehow lesser jobs. Yes, it may be
easier to get them because you are working with and being hired by people
who have experience with blindness, and are therefore less likely to be
freaked out by it, but they are not inferior jobs, nor are those who do them
less successful people.

 

Sorry for the list of disjointed thoughts, but take them for what they're
worth.

 

Take care,

 

Sean