Barriers to employing persons with intellectual disability: Employers' perception

The research was conducted with the aim to determine the most common barriers to the employment of persons with intellectual disabilities (ID), perceived by private employers and officials in state-owned enterprises. By applying HPEM - HR professionals' perception of employability of persons with intellectual disability (Berry & Kymar, 2012) an appropriate sample of 117 respondents of both genders, who were private employers (82/50.4%) and managers of state-owned enterprises (35/29.9%) was examined. Analysis of the obtained results showed that major barriers were the lack of work experience of persons with ID, the lack of stimulus for employers to hire persons with ID, and the need for workplace accommodation. The differences among respondents were not found in relation to gender, business activity, size and ownership of the company, but they were determined according to previously achieved contact with persons with ID and region of the country in which the respondents lived. The obtained findings imply the need for further research and additional interventions by experts in creating future plans and programs of employment for persons with ID in integrated working conditions.