Building a Purple Workforce

Unemployment among persons with disabilities (PwDs), often referred to as Divyangjan in India, remains a significant social and economic challenge despite policy efforts aimed at promoting inclusion. According to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, persons with disabilities are entitled to equal opportunities in education, skill development, and employment. However, many PwDs continue to face barriers such as limited access to education and vocational training, inaccessible workplaces, lack of assistive technologies, and social stigma. These challenges result in a large proportion of PwDs remaining outside the formal labor force, particularly in rural and marginalized communities.

India has an estimated 26.8 million persons with disabilities (Census 2011), with the Unique Disability ID (UDID) database now holding over 1.25 crore registrations. Yet the country faces a multi-layered crisis of disability exclusion from the workforce.

The Government of India has introduced several initiatives to promote employment and self-reliance among persons with disabilities (PwDs). Programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, and Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme provide skill training, financial assistance, and entrepreneurship support. These initiatives aim to improve employability, enable self-employment, and promote economic independence for PwDs across various sectors.

Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana

Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana was launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to promote skill development and enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) in India. The scheme was introduced in response to significant barriers faced by persons with disabilities in accessing education, vocational training, and formal employment. It aligns with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which emphasizes equal opportunity, economic participation, and inclusive development and complements broader national skill development initiatives such as the Skill India Mission, the Divyangjan Swavlamban Yojana and the Vishesh Microfinance Yojana.

Target Sectors and Market Growth

Target Sectors include IT, AVGC, Hospitality and Food and Beverage

The sectors above were selected under the Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana because they often involve process-driven, task-based work that can be adapted to different disability groups, allowing for better job matching and improved employment outcomes. The focus is on providing industry-relevant, customized training aligned with the functional abilities of different Divyangjan categories to ensure dignified livelihood opportunities.

They have a high growth and employment generation potential. If 5% of these jobs are earmarked for the PwDs, their representation will substantially increase in the urban workforce.

Summary inclusion potential by sector is given below, where the rating

Table: Disability Sector Compatibility Matrix

Sector	Inclusion Potential	Rationale
IT / ITES	Very High	Sector is highly inclusive due to its digital and desk-based nature, allowing work to be performed remotely or in accessible office settings. Tasks such as data entry, coding, testing, and customer support can be adapted using assistive technologies like screen readers, speech-to-text tools, and accessible software. Flexible work hours, minimal physical mobility requirements, and growing acceptance of remote work further enhance participation of PwDs across disability types.
AVGC	High	This sector relies on creative and digital skills, making it suitable for PwDs, especially those with locomotor or hearing impairments. Work environments are often flexible, project-based, and studio-oriented, allowing customization of roles. Tools and software used in animation and design can be adapted, and many roles emphasize individual creativity over physical ability, enabling inclusive participation.
Food Processing	Moderate–High	The sector offers a diverse range of roles across production, packaging, quality control, and logistics. Many tasks are process-driven and repetitive, making them suitable for PwDs with appropriate training. With reasonable workplace modifications (like ergonomic setups or assistive devices), individuals with locomotor, hearing, or mild intellectual disabilities can be effectively employed. However, some roles may require physical stamina or adherence to strict safety norms, slightly limiting full inclusivity.
Hospitality	Moderate	While hospitality has high employment potential, inclusion is moderate due to the customer-facing nature of many roles, which require communication skills, mobility, and social interaction. However, there are significant opportunities in back-end roles such as housekeeping management, kitchen assistance, inventory handling, reservations, and administrative functions. Inclusive hiring can be improved with sensitization, accessible infrastructure, and role customization.

Source: The Capital P Lab analysis

Table: Market Growth and Employment Projections for the sector

Sector	Growth Projection	Employment Demand / Job Creation	Employment Opportunity for People with Disabilities*	Key Drivers of Growth
Information Technology (IT)	Industry projected to reach ~$350 billion revenue by FY2026, growing about 6.1% annually	Workforce expected to increase to ~5.95 million employees, with ~135,000 new jobs added in FY2026	Approximately 297,500 jobs available in FY 2026	AI adoption, digital transformation, global IT services demand NASSCOM IBEF Reuters
Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics (AVGC)	The sector is expected to reach USD 6.8 billion by 2026 growing at nearly 29% annually	Long-term projections suggest up to ~ 2 million high-tech jobs in emerging AVGC ecosystems by 2030	Approximately 100,000 jobs by FY 2030	Growth of gaming, OTT platforms, digital content production, metaverse technologies The Times of India CII PIB
Hospitality & Tourism	The sector is projected to reach USD 60 billion by 2028	The sector needs to add additional 3 million jobs by 2028 The sector is projected to support 64 million jobs by 2035	Approximately 150,000 additional jobs by FY 2028 The sector shall support 320,000 jobs by 2035	Rising domestic tourism, MICE events, smart tourism technologies ETTravelWorld.com IDBI Direct THSC Report IBEF
Food & Beverage (Considered as Food Processing Industry)	The sector is expected to reach USD 1,274 billion in 2027 from USD 866 billion in 2022	In FY25, 1.93 million people in the registered sector and 5.1 million workers in the unregistered sector	Though employment projections are not available, looking at the growth potential, the sector can be an employment driver for PwDs	Infrastructure Support, FDI and various supportive schemes IBEF

*For analysis we are assuming 5% of the jobs to be allocated for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

Source: The Capital P Lab analysis

Conclusion

Addressing unemployment among persons with disabilities (PwDs) in India requires a shift from fragmented interventions to a cohesive, ecosystem-driven approach. While policies such as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and schemes like Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana have laid a strong foundation, existing gaps in awareness, accessibility, skill alignment, and inclusive hiring continue to limit their impact. The analysis above highlights that high-growth sectors such as IT/ITES, AVGC, Hospitality, and Food Processing hold significant potential to absorb PwDs into the workforce, particularly when supported by targeted skilling, assistive technologies, and employer sensitization.

If even a modest proportion—such as 5%—of projected job creation in these sectors is made inclusive, it could substantially improve workforce participation among PwDs, especially in urban and semi-urban areas. However, to translate this potential into reality, there is a need for stronger convergence between government schemes, industry demand, and grassroots implementation. This includes improving last-mile awareness, expanding access to training in rural areas, fostering public-private partnerships, and ensuring that jobs are not only accessible but also aligned with the skills and aspirations of PwDs.

Ultimately, building an inclusive workforce is not just a social imperative but an economic opportunity. By unlocking the productive potential of PwDs, India can move closer to achieving equitable growth, social justice, and true economic inclusion in its development trajectory.

For a more detailed analysis report, please drop in a message at contact@capitalp.org

Building a Purple Workforce

Enjoyed this article?

Join the Conversation

Share Your Thoughts

Sensory Inclusion: The Dialogue Opens Up

Why Universal Design Matters for an Inclusive Society?

Universal Design in Practice: Around the World on 7 Principles