Inclusive Job Placements

With its project "Promoting inclusive workplaces," the Profil Foundation Profil committed to freedom of choice for people with disabilities in the workplace and supports the demands of UN CRPD Art. 27 for barrier-free access to the primary labor market.

Project Objectives

• Targeted creation of niche or inclusive job placements in the primary labor market for individuals receiving a three-quarters to full disability pension, as an alternative to jobs in institutions and sheltered workshops, utilizing the 'Inclusive Job Design' methodology. 
• To demonstrate to cantons how labor market inclusion can be structured and implemented outside of traditional institutions.
• The vision of an inclusive labor market should gradually become more achievable. It should become standard practice for employers to hire individuals with disabilities, thereby diversifying the composition of their workforce. 
• The participation of individuals with disabilities in working life is crucial for their inclusion in society. Labor market inclusion also has a positive impact on society. When individuals with disabilities participate more in working life, they become more visible.

The project was implemented throughout German-speaking Switzerland.

Target Group

• Individuals with disabilities and a three-quarters to full disability pension in German-speaking Switzerland.
• Cantons in German-speaking Switzerland

Measures
The project addressed several areas:

• The placement process was adapted to the target group.
• The focus was placed on comprehensive employer consulting, and 'Inclusive Job Design' was introduced as a tool for creating inclusive job placements.
• Profil active negotiations and discussions with the German-speaking cantons regarding an increasing restructuring of their offerings.

What has this project achieved?
The project laid the groundwork for offering 'Inclusive Job Placements' throughout German-speaking Switzerland and facilitated the funding now secured in various cantons.
The increasing demand encourages the project team to further develop and strengthen the offering.
It is gratifying that this offering also clearly demonstrates that employing individuals with disabilities (even those with a full disability pension) can be beneficial for companies.

• Consulting and Placement of Individuals with Disabilities:
  The demand for consulting services consistently increased during the implementation years from 2019 to 2021, rising from 157 (before the project period) to 253 in 2021. The placement rate averaged 58%.
• Between 2019 and 2021, Profil observed Profil increase in job postings by employers and a growing number of inclusive jobs created through inclusive job design.
• Cooperation with cantons was expanded during the project period. Various cantons now Profil services and finance counseling and job coaching. Due to differences in cantonal legislation, financing is not regulated to the same extent everywhere (see Challenges).

Challenges
We identify the greatest challenges in the following areas:

• Legislation and financing: In many cantons, legislation focuses solely on the financing of institutions. Outpatient services such as counseling provided by Profil often Profil covered financially at all or only partially.
• Permeability between the secondary and primary labor markets: This primarily depends on the objectives of the cantons' disability policies. As long as institutions are measured by their occupancy rates and economic viability, there will be little active effort from institutions (sheltered workshops) to promote the direct employment of individuals with disabilities in the primary labor market. For this to change, a clear political mandate with new objectives is required. For example, institutions should be measured more by their placement successes or support provided in the primary labor market, rather than by occupancy.