Facilitating Sustainable Employment for People with Physical Disabilities: A Pathway to Inclusion: An ISM-MICMAC Approach

Abstract

This study attempts to design a new approach toward inclusive employment by addressing the aim of facilitating sustainable employment for people with physical disabilities. Adopting a mixed-method approach that combines a literature review with Interpretive Structural Modeling and Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to Classification analysis, the research identifies key factors and corresponding relationships that influence the employment sustainability for individuals with physical disabilities. Through semi-directed interviews with experts, the study uncovers the multifaceted enablers affecting entry and retention in the workforce for physically disabled persons. The findings reveal a complex interplay of five main dimensions: personal factors, structural factors, organizational factors with three subdivisions (workplace accommodation, corporate culture, and integration barriers), social factors, and psychological factors that can be strategically managed to foster a more inclusive employment environment. Motivation, self-esteem, and social security seem to be the most critical. The original contribution of this work lies in its comprehensive framework that not only illuminates the systemic challenges faced by physically disabled job seekers but also proposes actionable pathways for stakeholders to enhance employment sustainability. By identifying a clear and empirically grounded pathway to inclusion, this paper provides valuable insights for policymakers, employers, and disability supporters, emphasizing the transformative potential of integrating physically disabled individuals into the workforce.