Industry News | Jun 16, 2026 | No Comments |
City’s-worth of talent shut out of employment
300,000 learning disabled adults denied opportunity to work
Learning disability charity Hft has declared a “city’s-worth of talent” is being needlessly shut out of the job market – and is calling on UK employers to give learning disabled people a chance.
The charity’s analysis of Mencap and population data for Learning Disability Week (15 -21 June) suggests at least 300,000 learning disabled adults want to work but are being denied a chance.
That is equivalent to the population of cities such as Salford, Wolverhampton or Southampton.
Mismatch between vacancies and support for employment
As of May 2026, there were over 700,000 job vacancies in the UK, yet a vast pool of available talent is currently being ignored. Hft supports learning disabled adults into work through its supported employment and internships programmes.
Becky Speight, Chief Operating Officer at Hft, said:
“It’s outrageous that so many learning disabled adults who want to work are being shut out of the job market. These are brilliant people with talent and desire being denied a reasonable opportunity to contribute to our society.
“This situation can be reversed. That’s why, this Learning Disability Week, we are calling upon UK employers to make a simple pledge: to give a learning disabled adult a chance.
“Employment is part of a good, and ordinary, life. At Hft, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to find and keep a job, and our Supported Employment work helps people build the skills, confidence and experience to make that happen.”
Learning disability is not one-size-fits-all
Like non-disabled people, learning disabled people have different strengths, interests and support needs, and with the right support many go on to make valued contributions across a wide range of roles and industries.
Paul Russell, 44, of Leeds, is pictured at the top of this article. He has held a job for over 20 years after deciding he wanted to work after leaving college. He works at Cookridge Hall golf club and events venue in Leeds, assisting with a variety of tasks such as washing up and clearing tables.
He said:
“Work is important to me because it gives me independence. Having a job makes me feel good. It’s important for me to do a good job – I take great pride in my work.”
How to pledge support?
UK employers from any sector are being asked to pledge their support to help a learning disabled person. Simply email: media.enquiries@hft.org.uk with your name, company and contact details and they will set up a conversation with their Support Employment team.
Find out more about supported employment and internships with Hft on their website (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
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Further reading and resources
Access to Work is the scheme that can fund additional support to enable a disabled person to gain or keep a job.
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