Profile of Illinois Supported Employment Specialists: An Analysis of Educational Background, Experience, and Related Employment Variables

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Abstract
Coordinators of Illinois supported employment programs were surveyed for information regarding the demographics and reasons for job turnover of employment specialists. In addition, the employment specialist position was compared with that of direct service personnel in local rehabilitation agencies in terms of salary, benefits, and turnover. Survey results showed that although 58% of the programs responding required employment specialist applicants to hold a bachelor's degree, only 34% of those employment specialists actually hired held a bachelor's degree in a related field and an additional 10% held a degree in an unrelated field. Approximately two individuals were hired for every available employment specialist position in the Illinois supported employment program, with salary identified as the primary reason for the turnover. Although the nature of the direct service role fulfilled by the employment specialist in supported employment differs greatly from that of traditional direct service personnel within the local rehabilitation agency (e.g., workshop floor supervisors, day activity trainers), 55% of the programs responding stated that the salary levels for the two groups were comparable.

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