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How do the states differ in numbers of people with work disabilities?
States where the proportion of persons aged 16-64 with work disabilities is the highest are concentrated in the southern United States.
The top 10 states (and District of Columbia) in percentage of disabled working age persons are:
| 1) West Virginia | 12.6% |
| 2) Kentucky | 11.4% |
| 3) Arkansas | 11.1% |
| 4) Mississippi | 11.0% |
| 5) Louisiana | 10.3% |
| 6) Oklahoma | 10.2% |
| 7) Maine | 10.2% |
| 8) Oregon | 10.0% |
| 9) Tennessee | 9.7% |
| 10) Montana and Alabama | 9.7% |
The states (and District of Columbia) with the lowest proportions of work disabilities are:
| 51) New Jersey | 6.2% |
| 50) Connecticut | 6.4% |
| 49) Hawaii | 6.6% |
| 48) Alaska | 6.6% |
| 47) Illinois | 6.9% |
| 46) North Dakota | 7.0% |
| 45 & 44) Nebraska and Maryland | 7.1% |
| 43 & 42) Kansas and Massachusetts | 7.2% |
States with the largest increases in this rate from 1980 to 1990 are Alaska (up 22.0% from 5.4% in 1980 to 6.6% in 1990), Montana (up 19.3%), Wyoming (up 18.4%), Hawaii (up 11.4%) and Colorado (up 8.3%). States with the largest decreases in work disability from 1980 to 1990 are District of Columbia (down 15.0%), Florida (down 12.8%), Arkansas (down 12.2%), Maryland (down 11.9%) and Virginia (down 10.6%).
The highest rates of disability occur in the South.
Graphic: Shaded map of the limited States.
Source: LaPlante and Cyril, Disability Statistics Abstract #6, 1993
Survey: 1990 Census of Population and Housing