The Department of Labor works to foster a more inclusive workforce by increasing quality employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) collaborates with agencies across the Department, including the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), and the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) to conduct evaluations and data analyses of programs and policies that support inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Explore CEO's current studies and completed reports on disability employment.
Current Studies
Completed Studies
Role of Job Characteristics and Employer Accommodation in Labor Supply and Disability Benefit Claiming Decisions in Later Life
(February 2023)
This study was done as part of CEO’s Summer Data Challenge on Equity and Underserved Communities, and was produced outside of CEO’s standard research development process.
The Role of Labor Market Polarization in Disability among Working-Age Americans
(February 2022)
This study was done as part of CEO’s Summer Data Challenge on Equity and Underserved Communities, and was produced outside of CEO’s standard research development process.
Initial Impact of Section 503 Rules: Understanding Good Employer Practices and the Trends in Disability Violations Among Federal Contractors
(Final Report, January 2021)
This report was produced outside of CEO's independent evaluation and research process. Please see the report for more information on how this product was developed.
The Impact of Safe Patient Handling Legislation on Musculoskeletal Disorders among California Health Care Workers
(Final Report, January 2021)
This report was produced outside of CEO's independent evaluation and research process. Please see the report for more information on how this product was developed.
Community College Interventions for Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities Demonstration and Evaluation
(December 2020)
Employment for Persons with a Disability: Analysis of Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic (February 2020-September 2020)
(December 2020)
Stay at Work/Return to Work Models and Strategy Study
(December 2020)
Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Technical Assistance Centers Customer Satisfaction Evaluation
(October 2020)
Employment for Persons with a Disability: Analysis of Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic (February 2020-April 2020)
(October 2020)
Survey of Employer Policies on the Employment of People with Disabilities
(June 2020)
State Exchange of Employment and Disability (SEED) Evaluation
(June 2019)
Return-to-work Outcomes for Federal Employees in the Office of Workers’ Compensation Disability Management Program
(Final Report, January 2019)
Job Characteristics and Job Retention of Young Workers with Disabilities
(2018)
This report was produced outside of CEO's independent evaluation and research process. Please see the report for more information on how this product was developed.
The Role of the Public Workforce System in the Ticket to Work Program for Persons with Disabilities
(Final Report, July 2017)
Evaluating the Accessibility of American Job Centers for People with Disabilities
(Final Report, January 2017)
Find more research in DOL's Clearinghouse for Labor Evaluation and Research (CLEAR). Sign up for CEO research updates.
Labor Research Scholars and Grants
DOL and CEO fund grants and awards to support academic research that build evidence on labor issues important to the department. Read more about each research program and explore the final reports and datasets.
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Institutional Review Board (IRB) review to ensure studies adhere to the highest ethical standards, review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.