Public policies are encouraging sheltered workshops to become transition structures to ordinary employment. However, going from sheltered employment to a mainstream job is extremely rare. The article explores this paradox using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study shows that the majority of people with a disability interviewed do not wish to work in ordinary employment, which is perceived as too challenging. This vision of the mainstream job market is reinforced by the discourse of sheltered workshop employees, who shape the perspectives of people with disabilities and select those who wish to leave for ordinary employment.