The research has revealed that the current disability pay gap is 17.2%, compared to 16.5% last year. This gap equates to £3,700 a year on average, or free labour for 54 days of the year. The gap is even larger for Disabled women at 35% (over £7,000 a year).
In addition to a growing wage gap, the TUC revealed that Disabled individuals are twice as likely to be unemployed than their non-Disabled peers. Disabled individuals from a Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) background also face disproportionate barriers to employment - with 10.9% of BME Disabled workers unemployed compared with 2.8% of white non-disabled workers.
The full report, including the TUC's recommendations, can be found on its website. Disability Rights UK's previous consultation response calling for mandatory workforce reporting can also be found online.
Bethany Bale, DR UK Policy and Campaigns Officer, said: "Despite claims by the Government this year that employment amongst Disabled people has risen, this report highlights the reality that we know Disabled individuals are facing when it comes to inaccessible employment practices and a lack of support to get into work. The TUC has highlighted the importance of prioritising the recommendations made in the Disability Employment Charter, especially the urgency with which the Government must make employment and pay gap reporting mandatory."
