Staying in the Race: Counselor Visits and Job Search Confidence Among People With Disabilities

Abstract

Support that helps job seekers maintain confidence might decrease unemployment rates among people with disabilities. In this study, clients described their employment barriers (disability, education, and work history) and then reported their job search confidence 3 times at 6‐month intervals. Their employment support agency provided information about the support (counseling visits, support hours, and financial resources) it delivered. Clients with more disabilities and education barriers experienced declines in job search confidence unless they received intensive levels of employment counseling. Three visits to a counselor maintained client confidence, and confidence improved only after 18 visits. Other service intensity indicators (support hours and financial resources) did not halt confidence declines.

Unemployment and Job Search Behavior among People with Disabilities during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany

“…An important avenue for further research could thus be the development of specialized intervention programs for unemployed people with disabilities. An important aspect of such a program might be the stabilization of participants' job search self-efficacy, which has been reported to be fragile among job seekers with disabilities [45]. Furthermore, involving job seekers who have been successful in their job hunt could lead to valuable advice for the construction of such specialized intervention programs [46].…”

Effectiveness of a career intervention for improving career‐related outcomes in higher education students with disabilities

“…Direct training for critical skills such as job interviews is also an effective approach to improve confidence in graduate students with a wide range of disabilities (Oursler et al., 2019). In general, when PWDs face employment barriers in terms of their disability and work history, their job search confidence is eroded and their well‐being is at stake unless employment counseling is provided (Hemphill & Kulik, 2019).…”