Employment opportunities and challenges of people with visual impairment in Slovakia

Abstract

People with disabilities face disproportionate challenges in the labor market, including higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, and overrepresentation in low-skilled, low-paid positions. This study explored the employment opportunities and challenges experienced by people with visual impairments in Slovakia, drawing on the Social Model of Disability and Intersectionality Theory as guiding frameworks. A qualitative research approach was adopted, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 7 employed people with visual impairments and 3 institutional stakeholders from the Office of Labor, Social Affairs and Family, and Blind and Partially sighted Unions. The study addressed 4 core objectives: to examine perceptions of employment opportunities; to explore support systems, including school-to-work transitions, vocational education and training, and reasonable accommodations; to evaluate the perceived strengths and weaknesses of existing employment measures; and to assess how employment challenges vary by age and gender. Findings revealed that, while employment opportunities exist, access is often informal and hindered by inaccessible recruitment platforms, persistent employer misconceptions, and inadequate reasonable accommodations. The school-to-work transition emerged as a major gap, marked by a lack of internships, career guidance, and structured support. Vocational education and training programs were frequently outdated or misaligned with current labor market needs, and sheltered workshops, though secure, offered limited pathways for open labour market. Moreover, gender and age were shown to compound employment inequalities. The study concludes that inclusive employment requires coordinated systemic reform involving policy enforcement, updated training systems, accessible recruitment practices, and targeted support for diverse subgroups within people with visual impairment population. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of disability-inclusive labor markets and inform actionable strategies for promoting equitable workforce participation.