Why strong employment support for persons with disabilities has not brought about positive outcomes? A qualitative study in mainland China

Abstract

Employment is an important way for persons with disabilities (PwDs) to participate in society and fulfil their potential. However, despite the impression that employment support for PwDs is improving, why is the actual employment situation in China stagnant or even worsening? In order to answer this question, this paper uses a qualitative study in BTQ City, QL Province, China to analyze the causes of the general problems in employment support for PwDs by breaking them down into official government, quasi-government, and primary support groups. This study finds that the prioritization of 'economic development' dominates people's thinking and actions, to the detriment of social and economic goals. Consequently, the responses of the three employment support systems are: (a) an official government focus on “productivism” means PwDs employment is not a priority, and official support is usually “all talk, no action”; (b) bureaucratic quasi-government organizations are reluctant to assist beyond mere formalities to boost PwDs employment as this does not form part of their performance assessment; and (c) individualism resulting from societal breakdown makes the primary support group perceive a lack of benefit in assisting PwDs, and any assistance they render is done purely out of self-interest and are therefore unsustainable. We hope that the findings of this study will provide some inspiration and reference for improving the employment policy of PwDs in China.