U S Department of Labor

Self-employment for People with Disabilities U S Department of Labor

Publisher Marketing: Many Americans are the descendants of people who came to the United States from across the globe to realize opportunity and exercise freedom. Steeped in the spirit of independence, the earliest Americans were self-employed, primarily in agriculture. However, as the nation's economic base shifted from farming to manufacturing and then on to the "Information Age," the nature of employment in America did as well, with wage employment replacing self-employment as the primary means of livelihood. Yet, America continues to be associated the world over with the spirit of self-determination that embodies its roots as an entrepreneurial, self-reliant society. Furthermore, in economic downturns, job loss and lack of employment opportunities may produce additional incentive to pursue self-employment for people in a variety of situations and circumstances. People with disabilities demonstrate the same passion, independence and self-direction as all Americans, and given certain characteristics-including being on average older and less educated-it is not surprising that the rate of self-employment for people with disabilities in the labor force in 2011 was about 50 percent higher than the corresponding rate for people without disabilities. In 2011, among employed individuals, a higher proportion of those with disabilities were unincorporated self-employed (11.8 percent) than individuals without disabilities (6.6 percent). Contributor Bio:  U S Department of Labor Based on the Latest Edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook by the U. S. Department of Labor.