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This article reviews theoretical and empirical work in labor economics and the sociology of work relating to the segmentation of the labor market into a primary and a secondary sector and examines the implications for vocational rehabilitation. Demand-side and supply-side factors associated with labor market segmentation and movement of workers from the secondary to the primary sector are reviewed. Transition into primary sector employment is explored as an important aspect of career development for individuals with disabilities. Recommendations for working toward this goal are offered for job development, job analysis, and job training and support.
One of the central purposes of vocational rehabilitation (VR) is to assist people with disabilities in securing and maintaining employment consistent with their aptitudes, interests, and education (Rumrill & Roessler, 1999). Despite the wide diversity in these domains among rehabilitation consumers and the vast array of employment opportunities available throughout a vibrant and expanding economy, rehabilitation consumers are employed in a surprisingly narrow range of jobs. In an analysis of 103,417 successfully rehabilitated individuals, Walls and Fullmer (1997) found that the top five occupations held by consumers of all disability types achieving competitive employment through the state-federal VR system were janitor, chef/cook, attendant, porter/cleaner, and kitchen worker. Together, these five occupations accounted for more than 20% of all rehabilitants. Although these are growth occupations, they are primarily low paying and seldom offer benefits (Meisenheimer, 1998). Moreover, the authors noted that many of the occupations most frequently held by rehabilitated individuals require relatively little training and minimal skill levels.
The employment outcomes for individuals in supported employment are particularly restricted. Shafer, Banks, and Kregel (1991) found that about 87% of VR-- supported employees worked in only two types of work fields: food service (48.7%) and custodial (35.4%). The remaining occupations represented were benchwork (4%), stock handling (4%), laundry work (3%), groundskeeping (IM, and all other jobs combined (4%). These work fields clearly represent the lowest paid jobs in the economy (Meisenheimer, 1998).
Some of the difficulties may lie with an emphasis in rehabilitation counseling on one-time job placement for consumers and the relatively small amount of time typically devoted to career development assistance (Gilbride, Stensrud, & Johnson, 1994; Vandergoot, 1987). Pumpian, Fisher, Certo, and Smalley (1997) and Rumrill and...