Too few jobs for people with disabilities in higher education
Colleges and universities have created too few jobs for people with disabilities. They are far behind other public sector institutions, a new count shows.
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In 2026, 25 jobs should be created in the public sector for people with an occupational disability. These are, for example, jobs in catering, cleaning or landscaping. Sometimes it also concerns places for highly educated people with a physical or psychological disability.
From a recent measurement shows that the places have only been added in dribs and drabs in higher education and research. Government branches such as municipalities and the police are up to ten percent above their target.
Too few
In 2017, the institutions were still well on track, but that trend has stopped. Last year, the universities of applied sciences realized only a third of the 953 places that should be created in 2026. According to the higher professional education institutions, this is mainly due to the corona pandemic. Some activities were lost due to working from home and the guidance of the target group was difficult from a distance. But experiments are underway at some universities of applied sciences to involve people with disabilities more.
The universities created just over half of the 1886 jobs they ultimately target. Thirty percent of the target of 2264 places has been achieved at the university medical centres. Research institutes could only guarantee half of the 110 places promised.
The umbrella organization of the Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) cites “the corona pandemic, the tight labor market and the high workload” as the main reasons for not achieving the goals. In addition, activities such as catering and cleaning are often outsourced, which means that universities have less insight into this.
Higher educated
Higher education institutions have therefore not achieved their goals for years. This is partly because higher educated people with an occupational disability form only a small part of the target group.
New projects therefore often have to be organized for lower educated target groups so that new places are created. Institutions are therefore increasingly working together with social organizations and schools that help job seekers find a job.
Fine
If employers fail to meet the quota percentage, they will be fined. For every disabled person that employers employ too little, they have to pay a 'quota levy' of five thousand euros.
