With all the discussion lately about improving Americans’ working conditions and pay, it’s important to consider those in the workforce who have it even harder than most.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021 64% of Americans without disabilities were employed, but only 19% of Americans with disabilities were, owing to the many added difficulties they can face during the job hunt and at the workplace.

With this in mind, the people at MoneyGeek sought to find the best places in the country for workers with disabilties, and compared 218 places using six factors: safety, the population of people living with disabilities, labor force participation, poverty rates, health insurance rates for people with disabilities, and cost of living.

Newport News is the 14th best city in the country for workers with disabilities, and Norfolk is the 19th best. While Hampton Roads was well represented high on the list, Northern Virginia was even higher. At the top of the list as the very best place for workers with disabilities is Alexandria, VA, and Arlington, VA is the 4th best place in the country.

Virginia’s employment numbers among people with disabilities are significantly stronger than the nation as a whole. In 2021, 80% of Virginians without disabilities were employed, and 43% of Virginians with disabilities were employed. And things got better for workers with disabilities across the state in 2021 when legislation was passed to add important provisions to the Virginia Human Rights Act.

The new language requires employers with five or more employees to provide information on the employee’s right to necessary accommodations for their disability, and requires them to provide accommodations when requested, if possible. The change is expected to dramatically improve accessibility in smaller businesses.

In 2020 Governor Northam made October Disability Employment Awareness Month in Virginia. Nationally, observance began in 1946 and is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.