Abstract

This research entails an assessment of the employment conditions for deaf individuals in Asmara, Eritrea. The study involved the random selection and administration of semi-structured questionnaires to 40 deaf employees and interviews with 10 employers from various organizations. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. Given that 64.3% of the total deaf population in Eritrea is unemployed, it is evident that there are significant barriers to employment. Communication emerged as one of the major obstacles, with nearly 50% of respondents indicating that communication greatly influences their employment situation. Education was also identified as a barrier, with 61.8% of respondents stating that their level of education significantly affects their employment prospects. Despite these challenges, 73% of respondents expressed high satisfaction with their work environment. Other factors contributing to the low employment rate among deaf individuals include lack of exposure, economic conditions, and limited access to training and diverse courses, negative psychological impacts experienced by deaf individuals, and higher expectations placed on organizations to address their employment issues. To overcome these difficulties, it is recommended that deaf individuals receive moral support from society to enhance their competence and confidence. Additionally, improvements in salary remuneration are necessary to maintain their financial well-being. Providing literacy programs to enhance sign language skills, as well as psychological and social welfare programs, job training, and diversified courses, is also recommended to empower deaf individuals and enhance their employment opportunities.

Key words: Deaf, employment, barrier, people with disability.