Employment First: Equal Employment for Everyone.

For people with disabilities, South Carolina’s job market is not conducive to an inclusive work environment. For people with disabilities, finding a career that delivers meaningful employment, fair wages, and career advancement is increasingly difficult. In fact, South Carolina has one of the highest unemployment rates for individuals with disabilities. 

Infographic showing statistics from the 2020 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium and United States Department of Labor.

Hire Me SC works to improve these outcomes for individuals with disabilities. With Employment First, employment in the general workforce should be the first and preferred option for individuals with disabilities seeking employment. This means that people with disabilities will have increased opportunities to be a part of the general workforce, rather than working facility-based jobs or being denied work opportunities.

A large principle of Employment First is knowing that individuals with disabilities can work just as well as their nondisabled peers, and want to have the same job satisfaction and opportunities for advancement as the entire workforce. 

Realizing this and advocating for change starts with  you — job seekers, employers, service providers, educators, and the public at large. Browse through our website for more information on Employment First in SC and learn more at https://apse.org/employment-first/.