Abstract:

More than one in five Canadians (ages 15-64) have a disability. When they are in the work force, or attempting to work, these Canadians with disabilities face lower employment rates and challenges with career adaptability. They are also at risk of displacement from their jobs due to a changing labour market. There is a clear shortage of tools and resources that can help them to obtain a job, or to transition to a new role. This is particularly true for those workers who are at the mid-career stage.

This paper reports the broad, initial findings from a four-year study investigating the experiences of mid-career workers with disabilities (MCWD) in the Canadian context. As the study began, a gap in research literature was identified specific to the employment realities of mid-career workers who were disabled. This study was undertaken through a collaboration of co-investigators from Ontario Tech, Nipissing and York universities and Durham College in collaboration with major Canadian advocates for persons with disabilities such as the National Education Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) and the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD). This multi-faceted, national study was designed to examine career-adaptive responses which are vital self-regulatory reactions to career challenges (Klehe et al., 2011; van der Horst & Klehe, 2019). Adaptive responses include beliefs, awareness of barriers and adaptive behaviors in changing life and career situations (van der Horst & Klehe, 2019).

From the first phase of the project, the authors report on broad findings from the literature, Canadian census data and a scoping review, revealing new understandings about the career trajectories of MCWD. The authors next report on what has been learned about the experiences, perceptions, needs, and career adaptive responses of MCWD related to employment, and to ongoing learning and career progression. They also report on the perceptions of employers, and disability organizations/advocacy groups regarding the desired tools and resources to support MCWD.

The last phase of the project was the development of e-tools to support MCWD focusing on education- related services and resources and an e-toolkit provided through the web. Taken in its entirety, this study provides one of the first, comprehensive glances into the world of MCWD in Canada and suggests directions for tools and supports for this working population.

Keywords:

Career adaptability, career concerns, disability, mid-career workers, precarious employment.