Not all jobs are the same: Predictors of job quality for adults with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND: Some adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) who are competitively employed earn more than minimum wage, receive health benefits from their employers, and have work schedules that accommodate their financial and personal needs. However, most competitively employed adults with ID lack such benefits that are commonly associated with highquality competitive employment. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to look within the population of adults with ID who are competitively employed in order to understand factors related to high-quality competitive employment. METHODS: Respondents included a national sample of 153 parents/guardians of adult children (21 years of age or older) with intellectual disabilities who were competitively employed. These parents/guardians were drawn from a nationally representative sample of 1,055 households which included an adult with an intellectual disability. RESULTS: The results indicated that while high-quality competitive employment is attainable for adults with ID, most competitively employed adults with ID lack benefits including health insurance and salaries that are above minimum wage. Adaptive behavior was related to greater job quality. Also, beyond the influence of adaptive behavior, being at the same job for three or more years significantly predicted higher wages, more work hours, and greater likelihood of receiving health benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Policies and programs should look beyond emphasizing competitive employment as the ultimate goal for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and should seek to promote access to high-quality competitive employment. Improving employment stability may contribute to this goal.