To Örebro University

Various educational reforms in Sweden have resulted in a formally equivalent educational system for deaf and hearing pupils. Has this resulted in equal levels of educational attainment? This article compares 2,144 people born between 1941 and 1980 who attended a special education program for the deaf and 100,000 randomly chosen individuals from the total population born between 1941 and 1980. Data consist of registered information about the individuals in the year 2005. Results demonstrate that the deaf population has a lower level of educational attainment than the reference population. Women have a higher level of educational attainment than men, and younger people have a higher level than older people in each population. Neither sex, age category, nor immigrant background accounts for the variance in the level of educational attainment between the populations. The educational reforms have not been sufficient to reduce the unequal level of educational attainment between deaf and hearing people.

Education in Sweden for deaf and hearing people has differed historically. A significant difference is that deaf pupils attend special schools. However, the government has strived for equal education for the deaf and hearing. Various educational reforms have resulted in a formally equivalent educational system for deaf and hearing pupils. Has such formal equivalence also resulted in equal levels of educational attainment? The study presented here focuses on this question. Lower levels of unemployment and higher levels of income are associated with high levels of educational attainment (Welsh & Foster, 1991; Welsh & MacLeod-Gallinger, 1992).

To be defined as deaf in this article, a person is to have a hearing loss at an early age and to have attended a special school for the deaf. The definition of deaf used in other sources referred to here varies in parts such as Education in Sweden and Level of Educational Attainment for Deaf People, but most define a deaf person as one who has attended a special educational program for the deaf.

The position of deaf people in the Swedish labor market is described and analyzed. A population of 2,144 people born from 1941 to 1980 who attended special education programs for the deaf was compared to 100,000 randomly chosen individuals from the total Swedish population born during the same period. Data on these individuals consisted of registered information from 2005. It was found that the labor market position of the deaf population was not as good as that of the reference population. It was also found that differences in sex, age, immigration background, level of educational attainment, and region of residence did not affect the difference between the two populations in regard to labor market position. Instead, deafness itself appeared to be a crucial factor. The study also indicated difficulties in finding long-term solutions to the deaf population’s problems finding employment.

This study aims to describe and analyze the characteristics of deaf people in employment and their workplaces in Sweden. A population of 2144 people born 1941-80 who attended a school for the deaf was compared to 100,000 randomly chosen individuals from the total Swedish population born 1941-80. Data on these persons consisted of registered information from the year 2005. Results showed that there are differences between the workplaces of people in the deaf and the reference population. For instance, deaf people were more commonly employed in the public sector. People in employment showed similar findings in both populations concerning sex, age and level of educational attainment: the higher the level of educational attainment, the higher the employment rate. However, deaf people more often had a higher level of educational attainment than was required for their occupation, which is an indication of discrimination in the labour market.