Join Maryland Works Subscribe Account login

Economic Impact Study of the Employment Works Program

Employment Works Program 2021–2022 impacts flyer from Maryland Works. The flyer explains that the goal of the Employment Works Program (EWP) is to provide competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other job-related challenges while ensuring high-quality services for the State of Maryland. It states that 1,643 individuals with disabilities were employed through the EWP in 2021 and 2022, with approximately half working part-time, and that on average workers with a disability employed through the program earned $15.96 per hour. The flyer describes Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) as providing opportunities for people with and without disabilities to work together, earn at least minimum wage, and have equal opportunities for raises and promotions, highlighting top occupational service positions including janitorial services, landscaping services, other temporary services, facilities management, and optical scanning. It also notes the total economic and fiscal impact of the program, with $172.4 million in state GDP, $59 million in labor income, $17 million in tax revenues, and 1,594 full-time equivalent jobs. At the bottom is the Towson University Regional Economic Studies Institute logo.

The Maryland Works Employment Works Program (EWP) is a part of the State Preference Procurement Program which utilizes State or State-aided/controlled entities’ product and service contracts for the provision of certain skills training, work experience, employment, and business ownership opportunities for people with disabilities and barriers to employment. The overall goal of the EWP is to maximize the positive impact in advancing competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment, while ensuring high quality supplies and services for the State of Maryland. 

In 1985, Maryland Works, in partnership with the Maryland Legislature, created a Preference Purchasing Program that expanded employment options for Maryland citizens with disabilities. Maryland Works consulted with Towson University, Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI), to complete an Economic Impact Study to assist with estimating the economic and fiscal impact benefit of the Employment Works Program.  We are happy to share the Infographic that highlights the Return On Investment of the Maryland Works, Employment Works Program.

Employment Works Program 2021–2022 impacts flyer from Maryland Works. The flyer explains that the goal of the Employment Works Program (EWP) is to provide competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other job-related challenges while ensuring high-quality services for the State of Maryland. It states that 1,643 individuals with disabilities were employed through the EWP in 2021 and 2022, with approximately half working part-time, and that on average workers with a disability employed through the program earned $15.96 per hour. The flyer describes Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) as providing opportunities for people with and without disabilities to work together, earn at least minimum wage, and have equal opportunities for raises and promotions, highlighting top occupational service positions including janitorial services, landscaping services, other temporary services, facilities management, and optical scanning. It also notes the total economic and fiscal impact of the program, with $172.4 million in state GDP, $59 million in labor income, $17 million in tax revenues, and 1,594 full-time equivalent jobs. At the bottom is the Towson University Regional Economic Studies Institute logo.