Employers increasingly recognise productivity, value of disabled workers - survey

EMPLOYERS in Malaysia are increasingly recognising the capabilities and contribution of persons with disabilities in the workplace, according to a new national survey which found that a large majority of companies consider disabled employees to perform on par with other workers.

The findings emerged from the 2025 Employment Survey of Persons with Disabilities published by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, which surveyed 1,830 employers nationwide.

Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said nearly 81 per cent of employers rated the work performance of employees with disabilities as equivalent to that of other staff members.

The survey also found that 71.9 per cent of employers acknowledged that disabled workers contribute positively to workplace productivity and innovation.

Mohd Uzir said almost 22 per cent of employers currently employ persons with disabilities, reflecting growing commitment towards greater inclusivity within Malaysia’s labour market.

“Such efforts not only demonstrate increasing employer awareness regarding workforce diversity, but are also supported by the achievement of nearly 30 per cent employment among workers with physical disabilities,” he said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The survey showed that most employers who hire persons with disabilities tend to offer positions on a smaller scale, with nearly 91 per cent employing between one and five disabled workers.

Meanwhile, 47.5 per cent of employers indicated willingness to continue hiring persons with disabilities in the future.

Among employers currently employing disabled workers, 83.7 per cent were found to place between one and five workers in their organisations, while basic operational roles remained the most common job category at 31.4 per cent.

The report also revealed that 86.5 per cent of disabled employees in the workforce possess official disability identification cards as formal verification of their status.

Despite the positive findings, the survey identified several persistent barriers affecting broader employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Among the main challenges highlighted were the high cost of modifying workplaces to become disability-friendly, cited by 63.3 per cent of employers, as well as difficulties in finding suitable candidates, reported by 78.6 per cent.

The survey also found that employer awareness regarding available incentives and benefits for hiring disabled workers still requires significant improvement.

At the same time, the study indicated strong employer support for policies aimed at strengthening inclusive employment practices.

According to the findings, 90.6 per cent of employers supported the introduction of dedicated employment guidelines relating specifically to persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, 77.3 per cent agreed that job training programmes should be customised according to different forms of disability in order to improve employability and workplace integration.

Mohd Uzir stressed that broader cooperation between the government, employers, disability advocacy groups and other stakeholders would be essential in strengthening inclusive participation within the labour market.

He said such collaboration was important not only for empowering persons with disabilities but also for supporting Malaysia’s wider socioeconomic development agenda. - May 28, 2026