Nearly half of UK employers fear getting it wrong when employing people with learning disabilities

A new Mencap survey has found that although 80% of employers believe people with a learning disability can be productive at work, 48% do not employ them due to a ‘misplaced fear’ of getting it wrong.

The survey of more than 1,600 UK employers was conducted as part of Learning Disability Week. It also found that nearly a quarter (23%) say they don’t know what adjustments to make, and 30% worry about saying or doing the wrong thing. There is also uncertainty about practical issues, with 37% citing health and safety concerns.

Mencap says these barriers point to a lack of confidence and understanding among employers, rather than financial pressures. It is now calling on employers to move beyond hesitation and recognise people with a learning disability as a valuable and overlooked part of the UK workforce, rather than being written off.

Employers and reasonable adjustments

While employers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, Mencap say that in practice these are often simple and low-cost, such as offering extra time to learn tasks, providing clear instructions, or adjusting working hours.

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Other useful changes would include making recruitment processes accessible from the outset, providing clear, simple internal guidance on reasonable adjustments, offering entry‑level opportunities and supported pathways into work, and building managers’ confidence through training and real‑world examples.

For policymakers, changes include investing in and improving employment programmes such as Access to Work and supported internships, raising awareness of employers’ legal responsibilities, expanding access to practical support for businesses, reducing barriers to entry-level employment, and expanding routes into work.

Barriers facing people with learning disabilities

It follows an independent review, led by former Health Minister Alan Milburn, into young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), which warned of a “lost generation”. It also recognised the failure of government and employers to remove the barriers that young disabled people face when seeking and retaining employment.

The charity says practical guidance and support are readily available, including through its Mencap Training Academy, which provides intensive support with recruitment, training and job coaching.

Jon Sparkes OBE, chief executive at Mencap, said: ‘Too many employers are held back by a misplaced fear of getting it wrong. The good news is that most already believe people with a learning disability can do the job, but that belief isn’t translating into action.

‘Our research shows the barriers are often about confidence and understanding, not cost. Adjustments are usually simple, and the benefits to businesses are clear. If we’re serious about widening access to work, employers need the right information and support to move beyond good intentions and act on the commitment people with a learning disability bring.”

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today.

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