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Disability in a High-Work Society Case of Iceland. Stefán Ólafsson University of Iceland Plenum talk II, at the Conference The Capacity to Avoid Incapacity, Hotel Nordica, Reykjavík 9th November. Contents. Growing numbers of disability pensioners Comparing extent of disability pensioners
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Disability in a High-Work SocietyCase of Iceland Stefán Ólafsson University of Iceland Plenum talk II, at the Conference The Capacity to Avoid Incapacity, Hotel Nordica, Reykjavík 9th November
Contents • Growing numbers of disability pensioners • Comparing extent of disability pensioners • Employment participation of the disabled • New survey amongst disability pensioners - Characteristics - Work in the life of disability pensioners -Attitides to work and rehabilitation • Summary • Conclusions: Policy guidelines
Proportion of invalidity pensioners (All)Age groups (16-66), Males and Females, in 2008 Total: From 4% in 1990 to 7,4% of population 2008 Women=63%; Men =37%
Size of Disability Pensioners Group as a % of Population aged 20-64. OECD-Countries in 2007-8. Source: OECD 2009 and TR
Employment Patterns of OECD Countries 2007 Iceland Highest
Labour market exits in Nordic Countries% Receiving Any Pension, by age (16-66): Males and Females
Employment Participation of All People with Disabilities Year 2005 (% in some employment) Source: OECD 2009
Disability and Work • Disability and Rehabilitation Pensioners total= 8,4% of ages 20-64 • 61% of All People with Disability are in some employment • 29% of Disability Pension Receivers were in some employment during last 6 months; 21% are in employment now. • What does this mean? • Great sucess in getting people with disabilities into work, in general • Those employed who get sick or have accidents return back to work • to a great extent, compared to other nations • People at working ages have very high employment participation • There are generally relatively few unemployed in Iceland and • few on sickness benefit, but relatively many on disability benefit • The biggest challenge should be to activate and rehabilitate the • long-term unemployed and those already on disability pension. • The present crisis increases this policy relevance
Disability and Work: New Survey • New Survey on Social Conditions, Participation and Attitudes of • Disability Pensioners in Iceland, done in 2009 by Guðrún • Hannesdóttir, Sigurður Thorlacius and Stefán Ólafsson • This survey supports the analysis above • The following are some results from this new survey
Main Causes of Disability – TR Analysis Disability and Work: New Survey
Disability and Work: New Survey Respondents: Sample of All Disability pension receivers
Disability and Work: New Survey Respondents: Sample of All Disability pension receivers
Disability and Work: New Survey Respondents: Sample of All Disability pension receivers, not in work now
Disability and Work: New Survey Respondents: Those not interested in work now (about 35% of pensioners)
Disability and Work: New Survey Respondents: Those interested in work now (about 65% of pensioners)
Disability and Work: New Survey Respondents: Sample of All Disability pension receivers
Disability and Work: New Survey Respondents: Sample of All Disability pension receivers
Summary Profile of Disability and Work: • High work participation of people at working age(16-65) • High work participation of people with disabilities • Low work participation of people on disability pension • Positive attitude to work amongst the disabled • Most prefer part-time work (due to health limitations) • Positive attitude to rehabilitation amongst the disabled • Relatively many are on disability pension, but few on sickness benefit and unemployment benefit (long-term) • Too big role for Disability Prension Scheme: Not good • Inadequate vocational rehabilitation
Conclusions: Good Policy Emphasis • Decrease work related risk –monitor sickness absence from early on • Strengthening the disability tests>Workability tests • Get more people on to rehabilitation benefit;fewer on disability • Facilitate employment participation • Incentives to employers and the disabled; Support system; Increased Rehabilitation; Enlightenment in society and labour market • Make institutions more efficient / Modernize • One-stop-shop approach / One system for all • Focus primarily on long-term unemployed and the already disabled; deal early with the newly sick.
Takk fyrir! Stefan Ólafsson University of Iceland
Retirement Pattern of Icelanders% Receiving Any Pension, by age (60-74): Males and Females
Retirement Pattern of Nordics % Receiving Any Pension, by age (60-74): Males
Retirement Pattern of Nordics% Receiving Any Pension, by age (60-74): Females