SourceAmerica Reports AbilityOne Employment Gains
AbilityOne Program employment data shows workforce, wage, promotion and transition figures presented by SourceAmerica to the National Council on Disability.
SourceAmerica presented new AbilityOne Program employment data to the National Council on Disability, reporting workforce growth, higher average wages, promotions and community-job placements. The presentation covered 2022 through 2025 and included a written submission. The AbilityOne workforce grew from 32,652 to 37,407 employees during that period. Average hourly pay rose from $16.43 to $19.68.
Employment And Wage Results
SourceAmerica reported that approximately 6,000 employees moved from AbilityOne jobs into community jobs between 2022 and 2025. It also reported 8,800 promotions among AbilityOne employees. The organization said its network of nonprofit agencies supports federal procurement work, including IT services, mail delivery for U.S. service members and NASA missions.
Richard Belden, President and CEO at SourceAmerica, said:
“SourceAmerica's network of AbilityOne Federal contractors is uniquely called upon to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, while also maintaining and scaling up a base of support for the Federal government's procurement needs. Employees with disabilities provide IT services for federal customers, deliver mail to U.S. service members, support NASA missions and much more. Those AbilityOne contracts provide people with disabilities long-term careers within or beyond AbilityOne.”
Changes To Wage Practices
SourceAmerica also outlined recent program changes, including the phaseout of 14(c) certificates. Its 14(c) Transition program assisted 100 nonprofit agencies in its network in moving away from 14(c) wage practices after the Commission ended certificate use on AbilityOne Program contracts in 2023.
SourceAmerica NCD Presentation.
Richard Belden, President and CEO at SourceAmerica, said:
“This growth occurred during a period marked by labor shortages, post‑pandemic disruption, and wage competition from the commercial sector. These are conditions that have typically led to the loss of jobs for people with disabilities. The data demonstrates that, rather than insulating workers from market realities, the AbilityOne Program operates in them and still delivers measurable employment and wage growth, suggesting that its procurement‑based structure provides a stabilizing employment effect not otherwise available to individuals with disabilities.”
Program Information
The AbilityOne Program provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal product and service contracts. SourceAmerica’s presentation and written submission are available through its reports and factsheets page.
