Employment chances of recently visually impaired, young or middle-aged adults in the Swedish labour market

Abstract

The study (n = 261) focused on employment chances of Swedish visually impaired persons aged 25-45 years at the onset of their visual impairment, and who were employed at that time. It concerned persons who became visually impaired after 1974, the year when the Act on Security of Employment was passed. Although the Act has had an impact on employment opportunities, it is, however, no guarantee per se. Factors in the work environment accounted for improved chances of keeping the pre-disability employment. Individual factors were decisive in a person's chances of obtaining new employment. The least competitive groups of visually impaired were, in spite of the law, 'eliminated' from the labour market.