While it's known that talent is critical to any business innovation and competitiveness, hiring and retaining talent is becoming harder than ever before. This October is officially National Disability Employment Awareness Month – which acknowledges the contributions to the nation’s economy made by workers with disabilities - is a great opportunity for businesses to try something new.

Soapy Joe’s, San Diego’s beloved family-owned car wash, is a proud partner of PRIDE Industries, the nation’s leading employer of people with disabilities. Through the program, Soapy Joe’s has hired 16 employees - with a turnover rate of 0% - industry average in retail and car wash for entry-level is often over 80%. One employee, in fact, has been the top salesperson for memberships at Soapy Joe’s busiest site for four months in a row and has been in the top 3 sellers in the entire company all summer long. 

Soapy Joe’s is currently the top PRIDE Industries employer in San Diego county. Not only does hiring people with disabilities convey and promote an inclusive work environment, but it has led Soapy Joe’s to accolades such as the recent San Diego Business Journal recognition as a top CSR company in San Diego.

In 2021, 31.4 percent of employment-aged persons with a disability were employed, while 72.5 percent of persons without a disability were employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.