title: Closing the gap: Longitudinal changes in employment for Australians with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have documented far lower employment participation rates for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) compared to the general population. In a large national sample of PwMS, we examined employment status, longitudinal changes in employment and the provision of modifications to work role/environment from 2010 to 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Employment data were collected through the Australian MS Longitudinal Study from 2010 to 2013, with 1260 people responding to all four surveys. Employment rates were compared with the Australian general population. The survey included questions on the provision of modifications to employees' work role and work environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Employment (full- and part-time) increased from 48.8% in 2010 to 57.8% in 2013, mainly due to increases in male full-time employment. The employment gap between PwMS and the general population fell from 14.3% in 2010 to 3.5% in 2013. Male employment rates, however, remain significantly lower than the general population. The majority of PwMS who required adjustments to either their work role or environment received them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The gap in employment between PwMS and the general population has substantially reduced from 2010 to 2013, with organisations responding positively to requests for work role/environment adjustments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Management, Monash University, Berwick Campus, Narre Warren, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Pieter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Management, Monash University, Berwick Campus, Narre Warren, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kirk-Brown
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van der Mei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; accommodations; employment status; gender; work participation