Michelle Maroto (University of Alberta) presented new findings from an audit study conducted with David Pettinicchio (University of Toronto) on employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Canada. The study used resume audits and surveys to measure how employers respond to applicants who disclose different disabilities. Across nearly 1,400 real job applications, callback rates differed by job type. Disparities were largest in labor positions. These findings suggest that job characteristics and hiring processes contribute to unequal access to employment for people with disabilities.
We invited Dr. Maroto because this topic is directly connected to our Center’s current work. Our Center is studying how employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the United States may be shaped by contemporary hiring practices, including the use of algorithmic and AI enabled screening tools. We are using resume audit methods, quasi experimental policy analysis, and qualitative interviews with employers to study both potential benefits and risks. Presentations like Dr. Maroto’s help place our Center’s research within a broader body of empirical evidence and support our commitment to rigorous research on employment pathways for people with disabilities.