Let's level up: disability inclusion in construction, infrastructure, engineering, logistics & manufacturing
Disabled people have long been under-represented in the workforce. At the same time, construction, infrastructure, engineering, logistics & manufacturing face impending labour shortages and a need to be more resilient in the face of evolving changes. Waihanga Ara Rau and Hanga-Aro-Rau sought to understand the opportunity and solution that could be unlocked for their industries through disability inclusion. They commissioned All is for All, supported by the Donald Beasley Institute, to lead research that sought to understand the barriers and enablers for disabled people in industry - and employers' awareness and experiences of employing disabled people. The research sought to be industry-led while weaving in a commitment to authentic disability inclusion - balancing these two lenses is critical to the research's success.
Left: Samantha McNaughton, Hanga-Aro-Rau | Right: Grace Stratton
Steering Group Members Grant Cleland and Tamara Grant
Erica Cumming, Waihanga Ara Rau
“These reports serve as powerful tools for analysing current social realities faced by disabled people in accessing meaningful workforce opportunities. By drawing on lived expertise, they help address entrenched workforce inequities for disabled individuals, including tāngata whaikaha Māori. Additionally, they contribute to shaping the discourse on the future of work and industry.”
Tracey McIntosh, MNZM
Professor in Indigenous Studies, Wānanga o Waipapa Faculty of Arts University of Auckland, Chief Science Advisor, Ministry of Social Development.
The research wanted to kōrero (speak) with non-disabled employers, and disabled people working (or qualified to work) in industry. All is for All led all aspects of this research, including the ethics application, survey development, interviews and interview questions, analysis and presentation of findings. The research resulted in an industry takeout, a key findings report and an extended analysis report.
All is for All conducted its work in a fully accessible way, to engage as many people as possible and sought to establish a safe environment for conversation where everyone felt comfortable and confident to be honest about their thoughts and experiences. It was important that this research represented Māori and Pacific people, regional communities and women in industry, as well as a range of impairment experiences.
Three hundred and six people took part in the research
247 employers responded to the survey. 25 employers took part in an interview or focus group. 34 disabled people took part in an interview or focus group. Three employers also identified as disabled.
101 participants were from regions outside of Canterbury, Auckland and Wellington. Every region in the country was represented in the research. Māori, Pacific, NZ/European, and ethnicities like Thai, Irish or Canadian were all part of the research.
Disability representation was inclusive of: neurodivergence, d/Deaf community, Blind people, people with learning disabilities, physically disabled, and those with invisible disabilities or health conditions.
“The study was the first [in Aotearoa] to compare the experiences of people with disabilities and employers within their industries”
Samatha McNaughton (as told to The Herald)
Deputy Chief Executive, Hanga-Aro-Rau
All is for All fostered a meaningful and significant conversation with a breadth of employers and disabled people. The findings of this research will set the foundations for ongoing work that truly makes a difference.
The Hanga-Aro-Rau and Waihanga Ara Rau project team
Read the reports on Waihanga Ara Rau and Hanga-Aro Rau
