Die Beschäftigungssituation von Blinden : ausgewählte Ergebnisse einer Befragung bei Blinden und Unternehmen (The employment situation of the blind)

"The labour force participation rate of blind men and women of an employable age is well below average compared with other groups of disabled people. An empirical study of blind people and of companies employing blind people provides information on the reasons and the type of labour force participation. Personal interviews with more than 1000 blind people in Rheinland-Pfalz confirm that less than a third of these people are in employment. Some 40 percent of those interviewed have retired or are permanently sick. One in ten is unemployed. The employment occurs in a narrow segment of working life: half of those questioned who are in employment work in only three occupational groups (telephonist, shorthand typist/office assistant, medical treatment assistant/masseur). The narrowing down of employment to a narrow market segment involves a particular employment risk in the medium term. Another survey, which was carried out parallel to this one, of over 300 companies employing blind people gives clear indications that the changes in organisation methods and technology will reduce the employment opportunities for blind workers in future. Those responsible for personnel matters in the companies and authorities questioned on the whole found blind workers to be satisfactory. What they judge more critically, however, is the lower flexibility in the deployment of blind people in the company and in their insufficient ability to develop their vocational skills. The results of the study give grounds to think about the safeguarding of employment opportunities and new areas of deployment for blind workers. The vocational training system is obliged to teach qualifications which are more strongly future-orientated. In the light of the empirical findings it is necessary above all for key qualifications to be taught and in particular the capability for further training on the job." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))