According to the latest findings from the Office for National Statistics, only 21.7% of autistic people are in employment. A number of charities are campaigning to change this, but there is still a lot of work to do to help more autistic people to find fulfilling jobs.

Support in finding work

There are local and national organisations that support autistic people in finding work. Some offer access to mentoring services, internships and apprenticeships. They may also be able to help with filling in application forms and preparing for interviews. You can search for local organisations in the Autism Services Directory and we have also provided links to a number of national organisations below.

Disclosing a diagnosis

When filling in job application forms, there may be a question on whether you have a disability or not. There is no legal requirement to let employers know about a diagnosis at this stage. Some autistic people choose to disclose their diagnosis on the application form, others prefer to let their employer know once they have started, and some may not disclose at all. Telling an organisation that you are autistic can be helpful though, as they are then legally obliged to offer reasonable adjustments during recruitment and in employment. 

Removing barriers

According to the Equality Act 2010, employers have to remove barriers that prevent disabled people from participating in the workplace. Most reasonable adjustments for autistic people are cheap and easy to implement and there is funding available through the government’s Access to Work scheme.

Read more about finding employment by clicking on the links below.