Across the UK, unemployment among blind and partially sighted people remains unacceptably high. The See My Skills report, produced by the Vision Foundation, highlights that just 1 in 4 blind or partially sighted people of working age are in employment. That means almost 75% are out of work—a gap that has actually grown in the last decade.
To put this in perspective:
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75% of the general population are in work.
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51% of disabled people overall (excluding sight loss) are employed.
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But only 27% of blind and partially sighted people of working age have a job.
This makes blind and partially sighted people significantly more likely to be excluded from the workplace than both the general disabled population and non-disabled peers.
The personal stories behind these statistics are stark. Many visually impaired people report applying for 100 or more jobs without securing an interview. Others face inaccessible recruitment processes or are “ghosted” when employers realise they have a visual impairment. The frustration, isolation, and wasted potential are immense.
At Blind Ambition Recruitment, we were founded to change this picture. Our site is built from the ground up with accessibility at its core. Every employer who advertises with us is open to hiring blind and partially sighted people. That means job seekers no longer have to fight through inaccessible portals or apply endlessly to organisations that will not consider them fairly. Instead, they can focus on roles where their applications will be taken seriously, their skills valued, and their potential given the chance to shine.
The Business Case for Inclusion
The economic and social case for inclusion is compelling. The Accessibility Advantage report from Accenture found that businesses which embrace disability inclusion outperform their competitors, achieving on average:
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28% higher revenue
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Double the net income
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30% higher economic profit margins
Far from being a cost, inclusion is a proven driver of innovation, productivity, and growth. Many workplace adjustments cost little or nothing—59% of accommodations cost nothing, and most of the rest cost under $500 per employee. When done well, inclusive practices benefit everyone by creating better-designed systems, more loyal workforces, and a stronger culture of adaptability.
Why Blind Ambition Recruitment Is Different
Blind Ambition Recruitment exists to connect employers with this untapped pool of talent. Our unique selling points (USPs) include:
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Accessibility first – our jobs board and all communication are designed to be fully usable by blind and partially sighted people.
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Inclusive employers only – those who post with us are actively committed to employing blind and partially sighted candidates.
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Supportive communication – applicants receive encouraging, accessible updates, reducing the isolation of endless unanswered applications.
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Efficiency – candidates can apply to multiple opportunities through one accessible interface, rather than struggling with 100 different job boards.
This isn’t just about compliance—it’s about unlocking potential. We believe that with the right platform and supportive employers, blind and partially sighted people should not face barriers to work.
Read the Full Reports
For those who want to dive deeper into the evidence, you can read the full reports here:
Call to Action
It’s time to see skills, not barriers. Blind and partially sighted people can and do thrive in all professions—from law and politics to teaching, finance, and the arts—when given the opportunity. Employers who step up to embrace inclusion will not only transform lives but also strengthen their businesses.
