Employment aspirations and barriers among young adults with intellectual disabilities in China

Employment is central to the social inclusion, identity, and dignity of young adults with intellectual disabilities, yet their first-person perspectives on employment aspirations and barriers remain underrepresented in the literature, particularly in Chinese contexts.

A qualitative design informed by the capabilities approach was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 young adults with intellectual disabilities across six urban cities in China. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Four themes were identified: employment as identity and belonging; structural and institutional barriers; family expectations as both protection and constraint; and support needs and systemic gaps. Participants demonstrated strong employment aspirations while describing pervasive experiences of labour market discrimination, policy ineffectiveness, and inadequate support infrastructure.

Findings challenge deficit-oriented framings of intellectual disability and employment, and underscore the need for individual placement and support investment, demand-led vocational training reform, employer responsiveness, and culturally responsive family engagement in urban China.