Scotland’s disability employment gap has been stubbornly high for years.One company told BBC Scotland News that there is a "talent reservoir" other businesses could benefit from if they look differently at recruitment.He said: "I don’t remember what to say.But he added that does not mean he is not a good employee.
He said the company had ambitions to develop its hiring processes to include more people with physical disabilities."You’re tapping into a talent pool that’s got huge potential."Rachael Hill, an Edinburgh-based jobs coach, urged more companies to adapt their approach. Ms Hill explained: "It’s definitely about working with the individual, building that confidence, and igniting that belief in themselves."According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 777,000 economically inactive adults in Scotland last year.However, about 50,000 of those people were looking for a job.The new UK government said getting disabled people into high-quality jobs is part of its plan for growth.
Chirsty McFadyen, from the Fraser of Allander Institute, said the biggest challenge is getting people with more complex needs into work.