Supported Employment: Assessing the Evidence

After 20 years of research, evidence of the effectiveness of supported employment for individuals with mental disorders is irrefutable. Across the country, this approach has replaced sheltered workshops for people who want the benefits and satisfaction of holding a job. Supported employment has consistently demonstrated positive outcomes, including higher rates of competitive employment, fewer days to the first competitive job, more hours and weeks worked, and higher wages. But how to expand the supported employment model to meet demand remains an open question, according to the authors of this review.