New Study Highlights the Growing Economic Power of the U.S. Disability Consumer Market

This study is an early signal of what's possible when barriers to workforce entry, wealth accumulation, and economic participation are reduced, but it's also a cautionary tale about how much work lies ahead.  

—Reid Jewett Smith

A new study co-authored by Carr-Ryan Fellow Reid Jewett Smith offers compelling new evidence that the disability community represents one of the nation's fastest-growing consumer markets—and a significant opportunity for businesses, policymakers, and investors.

Released in partnership with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Disability:IN, The Purchasing Power of Working-Age Adults with Disabilities estimates that working-age Americans with disabilities now hold $675 billion in disposable income, including $107 billion in discretionary income available after taxes and essential expenses. The research builds on AIR's landmark 2018 purchasing power study and provides a new, more robust snapshot of the economic influence of people with disabilities.

The findings reflect broader changes in the U.S. labor market. As more people with disabilities enter and remain in the workforce, their growing economic participation is reshaping the consumer landscape. According to the study, people with disabilities now account for approximately 6.8% of total U.S. disposable income, underscoring both their increasing economic presence and the untapped opportunities for businesses that prioritize accessibility and inclusion.

Reflecting on what inspired the research, Jewett Smith said:

"For years now, we've seen compounding evidence that people with disabilities are entering global labor markets at historic rates; naturally, I became curious about the impact on income and purchasing power. In our latest study, we learn that the growth in purchasing power is not incidental. It is the result of structural changes in how and where work happens, including remote and hybrid work arrangements, the adoption of accessible workplace technologies, and shifting employer attitudes toward disability disclosure that have allowed more people with disabilities to join the workforce, thrive in the private sector, and build economic lives. The $675 billion in income each year is but one way to quantify the case for economic inclusion that leads to better outcomes for everyone; consider, for example, how the $107 billion in discretionary income held by people with disabilities compounds the economic impact."

The report also emphasizes that the disability consumer market remains underserved despite its size. The authors encourage companies to view accessibility as a business strategy rather than simply a compliance obligation, arguing that organizations can unlock new opportunities for growth by embedding accessibility into product development, customer experience, technology, marketing, and investment decisions while engaging people with disabilities as consumers and partners.

At the same time, Jewett Smith cautions that the report is not a declaration of economic parity. Significant income disparities remain between people with and without disabilities, and many disabled workers continue to face structural barriers to wealth accumulation.

As Jewett Smith noted:

"This study is an early signal of what's possible when barriers to workforce entry, wealth accumulation, and economic participation are reduced, but it's also a cautionary tale about how much work lies ahead. On an individual level, people with disabilities' incomes are lower and fewer people with disabilities have any discretionary income; these income gaps are influenced by income and asset limits faced by disabled workers who receive social security benefits. Right now, people with disabilities earn about 6.8% of US income each year, but with the right policy conditions and corporate commitments, 6.8% is just the beginning."

Jewett Smith, who served as a co-author of the study alongside researchers from AIR and Disability:IN, is a Carr-Ryan Fellow whose research focuses on disability, labor markets, and economic inclusion. Her work continues to advance evidence-based approaches to expanding opportunity and demonstrating the economic value of inclusion.

The full report, The Purchasing Power of Working-Age Adults with Disabilities, is now available from Disability:IN and the American Institutes for Research.