85% of adults on the autism spectrum are unemployed — and hiring practices may be to blame

Published Updated 7 Min Read

AspiritechIllinois-based quality assurance company Aspiritech’s office is equipped to fit the needs of their workforce, which is made up almost entirely of employees on the autism spectrum.

The conversation around fostering inclusive experiences in the workplace has to extend to neurodivergent talent — and it starts with equitable hiring practices. 

Studies in recent decades indicate that up to 85% of autistic adults with a college education are unemployed, as cited by leading organizations that focus on the neurodiverse community. In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the unemployment rate for persons with a disability was about twice as high as the rate for persons without a disability.

Paola Peralta
Associate Editor

Paola Peralta is an Associate Editor at Employee Benefit News and has been with the team for five years. She is a proud UCF journalism graduate who got her start through a Dow Jones News Fund … Read full bio


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