Employment Status for People with Disabilities in Greece

Abstract

This article reviews the status for individuals with disabilities in Greece, based on data from a primary research carried out within the framework of Community Initiative Programme (CIP) Equal. In particular, the article examines the features of people with disabilities, the relation of educational studies to occupation, and the factors which influence the decision to work. It investigates the interest of disabled people in working, their current and past employment status, the field and the duration of employment as well as the importance of several factors contributing to job-seeking. In addition the article examines the means exploited in the process of finding a job, attitudes while working, as well as comparing the performance of disabled people at work to that of other employees. The findings of the research reveal to a full extent the problem of exclusion of disabled people from employment and point out the need for initiatives on behalf of the state in order to provide some solutions to tackle the problem.