ASSESSING DISABILITY INCLUSION IN JOS HOUSING SECTOR: EMPLOYERS' VIEWS

Despite Nigeria's ratification of the UNCRPD and the enactment of the 2018 Disability Act, persons with disabilities remain significantly underrepresented in the construction industry, with limited empirical evidence on employer perspectives in urban housing sectors. This study investigated employers' views on disability inclusion within the Jos housing sector, specifically examining factors influencing hiring decisions and barriers to employing and integrating workers with disabilities. A quantitative research design was adopted, employing stratified random sampling to survey 192 registered construction professionals (NIOB, NIA, NIESV, NIQS, NITP) in Jos metropolis. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, with analysis conducted through hierarchical multiple regression, dominance analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and Friedman tests. Only 6.3% of firms had ever hired a person with a disability. Hierarchical regression revealed that external factors (legal, incentives, accessibility) explained 42.0% of variance in hiring decisions, far exceeding demographic factors (4.6%). Dominance analysis ranked physical job demands/site accessibility (33.8%) and nature/severity of disability (25.7%) as the most influential determinants. Structural barriers were ranked most severe (mean rank 2.88, χ²=242.145, p<0.001), while legal compliance contributed only 10.5% to hiring decisions. Mixed-methods integration revealed role-specific willingness, with employers open to hiring persons with disabilities for office-based roles but not site supervision. Disability exclusion in the Jos housing sector stems primarily from infrastructural inaccessibility, organizational capacity constraints, and weak policy enforcement rather than individual employer prejudice. Systemic interventions targeting physical accessibility, employer awareness, and legal implementation are essential for promoting equitable employment opportunities.