The share of disabled people at risk of poverty or social exclusion last year was higher than for non-disabled people in all member states.

Close to 33 per cent of disabled people in Malta were at risk of poverty or social exclusion last year, according to figures released by Eurostat to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities today.

While 21 per cent of people with no disability were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, the figure rose by 12 percentage points for those with disabilities.

The share of disabled people aged 16 and over at risk of poverty or social exclusion last year was higher than for non-disabled people in all EU28 member states.

The employment rate of disabled people in Malta was just over one-third in 2011. Thirty-four per cent of people with disabilities were employed, compared to almost 60 per cent of people aged 15 to 64 and having no disabilities.

In the EU, the employment rate of people with disabilities last year was close to half – 47 per cent – while it reached almost 67 per cent for people aged 15 to 64 with no disabilities. About 44 million people in that age bracket in the EU reported a disability, which often prevented them from fully taking part in society and the economy.

Whether in terms of the labour market, the education system or for social inclusion indicators, the situation of disabled persons in the EU was less favourable than that of non-disabled individuals.

While Malta registered a difference of about 25 percentage points between the proportion of disabled and non-disabled people in employment, the widest gaps were registered in Hungary and the Netherlands.

Trends similar to those observed in the labour market applied for access to education. In each of the 28 member states for which data was available, the participation rate in lifelong learning was lower in 2011 for disabled people than for the non-disabled aged 25 to 64.

For the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the General Workers’ Union yesterday expressed its solidarity with disabled people. It called for more specific measures to facilitate access for people with disabilities that would boost their potential to contribute to society.