Staff equality, diversity and inclusion report 2019 Population by disability

The Office for National Statistics (2018) found that 18.9% of people aged 16 to 64 self-reported as disabled.

Staff disability disclosure

Disability disclosure rates among staff working in higher education institutions (HEIs) have consistently increased over recent years. In the period between academic years 2007-2008 and 2017-2018, the proportion of staff declaring as disabled doubled from 2.5% to 5%. Disability disclosure rates are lower among academic staff than professional and support staff and among professors compared with other academics (Advance HE 2019).

Advance HE reported that in 2017-2018, 5% of staff working in HEI’s in the UK disclosed as disabled. Staff disability disclosure rates are much lower in Scotland, at 3.7%.

Year UK HE disability disclosure percentages Scotland HE disability disclosure percentages University of St Andrews disability disclosure percentages
2014-2015 4.5% 3.3% 2%
2015-2016 4.6% 3.3% 2%
2016-2017 4.9% 3.6% 2.1%
2017-2018 5.1% 3.7% 2.5%
2018-2019 Not available Not available 2.1%
Data table depicting staff disability disclosure rates for the UK, Scotland and the University of St Andrews between the academic year 2014-2015 and 2018-2019. This includes the latest data from Advance HE’s, Equality in higher education: staff statistical report (2019) which publishes data pertaining to the year 2017-2018.

 

Findings

A smaller percentage of staff disclose as disabled (2%) at the University of St Andrews than elsewhere in Scottish and UK higher education.