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Published on: April 22, 2015
Employment and Career Development Among Autistic Adults: Self and Caregiver Perceptions
Xinru Jiang1, Shana R Cohen1, Sasha M Zeedyk2
1Education Studies, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.
Autism in Adulthood
|July 1, 2026
Summary
Autistic individuals face employment barriers, but possess unique strengths valuable to employers. Recognizing these strengths and fostering inclusive workplaces can improve job outcomes for autistic adults seeking meaningful careers.
Area of Science:
- Neurodiversity and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the workplace.
- Employment outcomes and career development for autistic adults.
Background:
- Rising number of autistic individuals seeking employment.
- Workplace barriers, such as insufficient training, hinder employment for autistic adults.
- Neurodiversity-affirming practices highlight unique strengths autistic adults bring to the workplace.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine autistic interns' and caregivers' perspectives on employment and career development.
- To understand challenges faced by autistic individuals in obtaining and maintaining employment.
- To identify strengths of autistic individuals that can benefit employers.
Main Methods:
- Individual interviews conducted with 14 autistic interns and 17 caregivers.
- Interviews focused on employment experiences, challenges, and desired future roles.
- Verbatim transcription and theme-based coding with high interrater agreement (Cohen's kappa 0.86-1.00).
Main Results:
- Autistic interns experienced difficulty securing full-time, paid positions, often in roles misaligned with their interests.
- Job access challenges included lack of relevant education/experience and insufficient workplace training.
- Interns demonstrated strengths like persistence and self-worth, desiring passion-driven roles.
Conclusions:
- Employers should recognize and value the unique strengths autistic individuals offer.
- Creating inclusive workplaces and acknowledging individual capabilities can help autistic adults thrive.
- Findings inform potential employers and the neurodivergent community on improving employment opportunities.
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