New DOL Rule Creates Opportunities to Employ People with Disabilities

The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a new rule designed to improve employment of people with disabilities by government contractors and their subcontractors.

The rule amends Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and introduces a hiring goal for federal contractors and subcontractors to employ people with disabilities as 7% of each of their job groups, or if they have fewer than 100 employees, their entire workforce. (Job groups are categories of employees with comparable job responsibilities as defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.) The rule also details specific actions contractors must take to recruit and track their progress in hiring disabled workers.

The rules will take effect 180 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Meanwhile, you can learn more at an upcoming webinar organized by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs as follows:

Wednesday, September 18, 2:00 pm Eastern Webinar on the Section 503 Final Rule to improve job opportunities for people with disabilities

For more details on the new rule, please visit the DOL website:

Section 503 Rule, to improve job opportunities for people with disabilities