Journal Article Details
Citation:
Ipsen, C. & Swicegood, G. (2017). Rural and urban vocational rehabilitation self-employment outcomes.
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 46
(1),
97-105.
Title:
Rural and urban vocational rehabilitation self-employment outcomes
Authors:
Ipsen, C. & Swicegood, G.
Year:
2017
Journal/Publication:
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Publisher:
IOS Press
DOI:
Full text:
Peer-reviewed?
Yes
NIDILRR-funded?
Yes
Structured abstract:
Background:
Self-employment is an attractive option for people with disabilities because it offers a means to economic independence while overcoming barriers (ODEP, 2013). Compared to national averages, however, self-employment is an underutilized employment strategy in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). Cited reasons for this discrepancy include VR concerns about self-employment business failures and income potential.
Purpose:
This paper explores the viability of VR self-employment closures across geography.
Study sample:
We compiled 2008 and 2009 RSA-911 data with zip code and county variables from 47 VR agencies (n?=?711,037 cases). We used Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA2) codes matched on zip code to group cases into urban, rural, very rural, and isolated rural geography.
Findings:
Closure rates to self-employment increased as geography become more rural. Weekly earnings rates were similar across competitive and self-employment closures, but consumers closed to self-employment worked fewer hours per week (p?0.001) and earned significantly higher hourly wages (p?0.001).
Conclusions:
Data show that self-employment offers a viable employment option in terms of weekly earnings and hourly wages. Increased capacity in self-employment is important for rural consumers who face additional barriers to employment such as limited transportation options and a narrower range of competitive employment options.
Disabilities served:
Multiple disabilities
Populations served:
Rural and remote communities
Interventions:
Vocational rehabilitation
Outcomes:
Self-employment