Autistic people have many strengths to offer in the workplace, but they often face barriers to getting and keeping a job. Building inclusive employment opportunities for autistic people makes great business sense for the whole team and organisation.
In UK, only 3 in 10 autistic people are in work (DWP, 2024), the lowest employment rate of all major disability groups.
This statistic is not low because autistic people cannot or don’t want to work. It is due to significant barriers that autistic people face in recruitment and retaining employment.
There are several reasons why autistic people may struggle to find or stay in work:
- Lack of understanding from employers and co-workers
- Interview processes that don’t suit autistic communication styles
- Workplace environments that are too noisy or unpredictable
- Limited support or adjustments
- Stigma and fear - only 30% of autistic people in work feel safe to share their diagnosis (Buckland Review, 2024).