Businesses are missing out on a largely untapped resource by not hiring more Canadians with disabilities, according to the results of a BMO Financial Group survey released October 24.
The report states that three-in-ten small business owners hired people with disabilities in 2013 – the same as in 2012, indicating that hiring has flat-lined, according to BMO.
“Canada’s ability to compete internationally is predicated on its ability to innovate, to create and enhance the productivity of its businesses,” said Sonya Kunkel, managing director, diversity, at BMO Financial Group.
“As an engine for growth and employment, it is critical that small businesses expand the talent pool upon which they rely to include university and college educated people with disabilities who are ready, willing and able to help them compete, not just within their local markets but on a world scale.”
The survey found that employers found employees who have hired people with disabilities to be more engaged, more productive and more loyal than those without disabilities. However, it found that 69% of small business owners have never hired a person with either a visible or non-visible disability.
Kunkel said that because a recent BMO survey found that 46% of Canadian business owners plan to hire more employees in 2014, the time is right to look into hiring more employees with disabilities. She said many of those surveyed stated they saw the benefit of hiring those with diverse backgrounds, but that they don’t understand how hiring employees with disabilities can benefit them.
“The irony is that business owners readily recognize the advantages of a diverse work-force – 80% said new Canadians bring fresh ideas to the workplace and 79% see diversity as an asset – yet they seem not to understand that people with disabilities can add to this diversity and make a significant contribution to their efforts to improve business results,” said Kunkel.
