Collecting Disability Employment Data Disaggregated by Disability Type

26 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry currently collects disability employment data disaggregated by disability type, such as intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and physical disabilities; (b) if not, whether the Ministry will commit to collecting and publishing such granular sub-sector data; (c) whether effective interventions can be designed without such breakdown in data and if so, how.

Dr Tan See Leng: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) collects and publishes employment statistics for persons with disabilities (PwDs) using data from the annual Comprehensive Labour Force Survey. MOM does not further disaggregate the published figures by specific types of disability, as this can lead to wide margins of error and significant year-to-year fluctuations given the relatively small proportion of PwDs out of our total population.

The needs of PwDs in workplaces are diverse and are not solely determined by the nature of their disabilities. MOM receives feedback from PwDs, employers and other stakeholders through the Ministry of Social and Family Development and SG Enable on existing policies, including how best to support employment for PwDs. Together with administrative data, such feedback can help to inform reviews of existing policies and support the development of recommendations. The Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities will develop recommendations to provide greater opportunities and assurance to PwDs and their families, including how to better support PwDs and employers in a fast-changing employment landscape and build resilience for PwDs in the workplace.