The Labour Market

Seize the Moment – Let go of Prejudices

Only 48% of all deaf people in their working age have a job – whereas 75% of the hearing population have a job.

At the end of the day this means that there is much potential among the deaf population that is not being used – and that the hearing workplaces throughout the country are not enriched by the deaf.

The fact that the hearing and the deaf do not meet up at work certainly does not benefit the daily encounters either: In the supermarket, on the street, at university and other institutions.

On the contrary it seems that the deaf and the hearing avoid communication in these kind of places way too quickly. And this is a shame.

Lacking Knowledge and Motivation
Surveys show that the lack of knowledge among the hearing population of what it means to be deaf and the lack of motivation among the deaf to apply for jobs in “the hearing labour market” are some of the fundamental problems causing the employment rate among the deaf to be so low.

“DDA wishes to make an effort in order to change the picture and give both the deaf and the hearing better options re visibility concerning each others potential. This is why we have applied for and been granted 5.5 million Danish kroner from the Labour Market Authority for establishing a 3 year Labour Market Campaign aiming at changing views, adding tools and informing widely,” Asger Bergman explains.

What are the Views that DDA wishes to Change?
• “Employers feel that they run a risk when hiring someone who is deaf.”
• “The hearing and the deaf are unable to work together because they are unable to communicate and there are way too many misunderstandings.”
• “The hearing people prefer to work along side others that are hearing as do the deaf people prefer to work along side others that are deaf.”