Autism & unemployment
By Bart Vulliamy
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition of variable severity with lifelong effects that can be recognized from early childhood , chiefly characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior .
The latest findings from The U . K . Office of National Statistics for 2021 estimated that 71 % of autistic adults are unemployed , meaning that only 3 in 10 are in the workforce . Compared to the 84 % rate for non-disabled individuals , there is a stark difference .
Autistic and disabled people in employment were also less likely to be employed in professional occupations and in senior roles ( 27.2 % compared to 34.5 % for nondisabled people ). Furthermore , the majority of employed autistics are in low-skill level roles that don ’ t leverage their talents , such as entry level positions in retail or kitchen jobs .
Autistic people are among those disabled people with the lowest employment rate .
As an autistic person who has worked and struggled with employment and the employment process , I feel that I am both capable and incapable of navigating the system . I have held jobs in retail – low pay / low skill labour positions , failed accommodations , and often been overlooked for raises and promotions . A common theme among autistics who are employed .
Two of the biggest barriers to overcome are the application process and the interview . The application process is now done almost solely with Automatic Tracking Systems , which are used to scan and filter applications , meaning that your application / resume most likely won ’ t even be seen by a real person .
Once you ’ re called upon for a job interview , more barriers are placed in front of you which makes sense . The employer / business owner wants to hire the best applicants and make sure that they ’ ll stay long term . But the ability to perform the job does not mean an autistic individual cannot perform
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