Profile of Illinois Supported Employment Specialists: An Analysis of Educational Background, Experience, and Related Employment Variables

Abstract

Coordinators of Illinois supported employment pro grams were surveyed for information regarding the de mographics and reasons for job turnover of employment specialists. In addition, the employment specialist posi tion was compared with that of direct service personnel in local rehabilitation agencies in terms of salary, ben efits, and turnover. Survey results showed that although 58% of the programs responding required employment specialist applicants to hold a bachelor's degree, only 34% of those employment specialists actually hired held a bachelor's degree in a related field and an additional 10% held a degree in an unrelated field. Approximately two individuals were hired for every available employ ment specialist position in the Illinois supported em ployment program, with salary identified as the primary reason for the turnover. Although the nature of the direct service role fulfilled by the employment specialist in supported employment differs greatly from that of tra ditional direct service personnel within the local reha bilitation agency (e.g., workshop floor supervisors, day activity trainers), 55% ofthe programs responding stated that the salary levels for the two groups were com parable.