More opportunities for everyone: How inclusion in companies enriches the work environment

18.09.2024

165,725 severely disabled people were unemployed in Germany on average in 2023. This figure illustrates the ongoing challenge: people with disabilities often find it more difficult to find a job on the primary labor market than jobseekers without disabilities, despite having good qualifications.

Image: Young man in black work clothes, Florian Ridder, sits in the cab of a forklift truck; Copyright: Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe

Florian Ridder works at DEG Dach-Fassade-Holz eG in Münster, where he drives a forklift truck, among other things. A stroke of luck for him and an enrichment for the company, as branch manager Marco Klaßen reveals in the video.

This is despite the fact that, according to REHADAT - the platform for vocational participation – they are in many cases highly trained. Statistics show that there are even more people with completed vocational training among unemployed severely disabled people than among unemployed people without severe disabilities. Nevertheless, the path into the labor market remains rocky for them.

Barriers on the primary labor market

People with disabilities are represented in all sectors, but the majority find work in the manufacturing industry or in the public sector. However, the hurdles that many face are not just physical, but often structural and social. Employers are reluctant to hire people with disabilities, even though they could benefit from various support programs. As Daniel Bieber, state representative for people with disabilities in Saarland, explained in 2023: "There are really generous funding opportunities, but nobody knows about them." These include wage subsidies, support for the barrier-free design of workplaces and much more.

The difficult transition from workshops to the general labor market

The transition of people with disabilities from sheltered workshops (WfbM) to the primary labor market is a particularly big challenge. These workshops, which employ over 310,000 people with disabilities, have come under increasing criticism in recent years – especially when it comes to fair pay. However, they also fulfill an important task: to facilitate and support the transition to the general labour market.

One of these success stories is Florian Ridder, who works as a forklift driver and warehouse worker at DEG Dach-Fassade-Holz eG in Münster. Florian Ridder came from a workshop for people with disabilities and has settled in perfectly at the company. "He has a very high level of basic motivation," says his line manager Marco Klaßen. "And by pushing forward, he logically also takes on the odd person who doesn't push forward."

For Florian Ridder himself, the switch to the primary labor market was a big step: "I love going to work here! I am extremely satisfied. I used to be in the workshops and I didn't like it so much there. I'd rather be outside working." Stories like this are encouraging and show that the transition is possible and can be rewarding for all sides.

Gif animation: REHACARE 2026 from 23 to 26 September 2026 in Düsseldorf/Germany, linked to "More information about the Trade Fair"

Image: Woman with very short hair and pink care clothing, Anna Neubauer, helps a senior citizen from her bed into her wheelchair. Copyright: Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe

Anna Neubauer works as a carer in a retirement home for aiutanda Westfalen GmbH, where she supports older people who need help with everyday tasks.

Support for employers

However, the success of such transitions depends not only on the people concerned, but also on the willingness of employers to take on people with disabilities. Employers can receive support, for example, from the LWL Inclusion Office for Employment and from employees of the Integration Specialist Service (IFD). The specialists at the IFD provide advice on various forms of support for the employment relationship and how to apply for it. More information can be found on the (German) LWL website.

The LWL also emphasizes how important the inclusion of people with disabilities in the primary labour market is for society as a whole. According to Dr. Georg Lunemann, Director of the LWL, employing people with disabilities could be part of the solution to the general shortage of workers. It is important not to see people with disabilities as a problem, but to turn the perspective around and recognize that they can help solve the problem of the labour shortage.

Visible and invisible disabilities

While the transition from workshops to the general labor market is actually well supported by the state, many people with non-visible disabilities often go unnoticed. According to one study, 86 percent of all disabilities are invisible in the workplace. 78 percent of those affected have not fully disclosed their disability in the workplace. The fear of stigmatization, discrimination and career setbacks is great.

Yves Hoffmann from EnableMe explains that many of those affected fear being reduced to their disability after disclosure. "There is often a lack of role models," he emphasizes, because only a few managers with disabilities communicate this openly. Yet disclosure is often crucial in order to obtain necessary workplace adjustments – adjustments that in many cases would be inexpensive or even free of charge thanks to government funding.

The SafeSpace digital tool from EnableMe supports people with non-visible disabilities in making the decision as to whether they want to disclose their disability in the workplace. This decision is complex and can be associated with great emotional stress. However, without disclosure, necessary adjustments are often not made, which can affect well-being and productivity.

Image: Several visitors to REHACARE 2023 in front of the stand of LVR, LWL and the NRW state government; Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf / Andreas Wiese

Associations such as LVR and LWL as well as the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia support people with disabilities in finding a job that matches their abilities. At REHACARE, people can come into contact with representatives of these organizations.

Reintegration after an accident or illness

Disabilities do not always arise from birth. Many people face the challenge of returning to work after an accident or serious illness. With their wir.Neustarter (we.newstarters) project, the Berufsförderungswerke (vocational training centers) in Germany offer valuable support with rehabilitation. They also help those affected to find new career prospects if they can no longer work in their old profession. This enables them to actively participate in working life again and regain their independence.

An impressive example of independent reintegration is Peggy, who is in a wheelchair after an accident and has managed to successfully return to work with the help of her employer and her team at HASOMED. The strong community and the support of her colleagues have paved her way back to work. "We made the journey together to get me back to work here," says Peggy. "That's the biggest goal for me: to get back to normal – even with a wheelchair."

Inclusion as a benefit for all

The inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace is not a sure-fire success, but success stories like those of Florian Ridder and Peggy show that it is possible. With the right support measures, people with disabilities can develop their full potential and companies benefit from motivated, high-performing employees. It is important that more employers are aware of the existing support options and have the courage to seize these opportunities. After all, inclusion is not just a benefit for those affected – it is a benefit for society.