| | of global Fortune 500 companies disclose disability workforce participation rates | | | | Demand for disability data is intensifying, and the number of companies publishing their disability representation has nearly doubled in the past three years | | On the Verge: Disability & Sustainability Reporting | | An analysis of sustainability reporting practices in the Global Fortune 500, 2021-2024 | | Regulatory bodies increasingly recognize that sustainability disclosures are critical to investors’ valuations of company performance, which has led to an intensification in the demand for workforce disability data. A new report by Disability:IN reveals that 65% of Global Fortune 500 companies include disability in their annual sustainability disclosures, highlighting the growing acknowledgment of disability as a material aspect of business performance. | | “This report underscores that the Global Fortune 500—a cohort of companies leading the charge on sustainability—are treating disability inclusion as a core business strategy,” said Jill Houghton, CEO of Disability:IN. “By integrating the disability inclusion advantage, companies unlock higher revenue, net income, and individual productivity, fostering both innovation and long-term growth. With tools like The Disability Index®, we are confident in building a future where disability inclusion is seamlessly woven into corporate sustainability efforts.” | |
-
Regional Leadership: 51% of global Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region report on disability inclusion. Excluding China, this number soars to 84% in regional markets like South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, which all have long standing disability employment quotas.
-
Sectoral Leadership: Technology, business services, research and development, and entertainment sectors demonstrate the highest rates of disability inclusion reporting, with 96% of companies in these industries incorporating disability into their disclosures. The increased prevalence of remote work in these sectors has fostered a more welcoming professional environment, allowing individuals with disabilities to excel.
-
A Tipping Point: The landscape of disability reporting is undergoing a seismic shift. European regulatory modernization and global market pressures are propelling disability data into sustainability frameworks. Starting in 2025, under the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), disability will be integrated into social and business conduct disclosures. Over the next decade, approximately 50,000 multinational and regional enterprises - including 10,000 businesses outside of the EU - will incorporate disability into their materiality assessments, some as early as this year. This momentum reflects the growing recognition of disability as a core element of sustainability and a driver of innovation and growth.
-
Room for Improvement: While the report highlights promising progress and the pivotal moment at hand for incorporating disability inclusion into corporate sustainability matters, significant gaps in disclosure remain. Many companies still lack comprehensive frameworks for reporting on disability, underscoring the need for clearer guidelines and consistent global standards to ensure equitable representation and transparency.
| | For your convenience and easy reference, Disability:IN shares its “Guide to Legal Foundations for Disability Inclusive Employment.” The Guide helps illuminate the solid, stable legal framework that informs Disability:IN’s mission to advance disability inclusion in the workplace. Specifically, this one pager briefly recaps federal statutory law which sets the foundation for disability inclusive employment in the United States, as well as provides a quick reminder of the limited ways in which such laws may change. | | | | Follow along as Disability:IN continues to dive into significant legislative developments coming out of the European Union (EU). Our most recent articles explore the scope, key policy shifts, and broader implications for three pieces of EU legislation. | |
- Save the Date: 2025 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo, July 14-17, 2025 in Orlando, Fl.
-
Disability:IN’s Global Journey to Disability Inclusion for Business series will continue with 5 in-person European Roundtables, May 13-23, 2025, focused on European Union legislation and European country compliance requirements impacting business disability inclusion. Investors interested in attending should contact Reid@DisabilityIN.org
-
The 2025 Disability Index opens for completion on February 3, 2025. Learn more about registering for the 2025 Disability Index.
| | Contact the Research & Policy Team | | |
About Disability:IN
Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations trust Disability:IN to activate and achieve disability inclusion across their enterprise and in the broader corporate mainstream. Through the world’s most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking; best-in-class conferences and programs; and expert counsel and engagement, Disability:IN works with leading businesses to create long-term business and societal impact. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN
| | | | |
