Jobs for Autistic People

The Problem we are trying reduce and solve

While many job seekers face obstacles in today’s competitive market, autistic people are up against a much steeper climb. An estimated 73% of autistic adults are unemployed in the UK, making them one of the most underrepresented and marginalised groups in the workforce. This isn’t a reflection of ability or ambition, it’s a result of systemic barriers, stigma, and a lack of understanding.

The barriers begin early, from the moment autistic individuals begin preparing for work, they often encounter systems that aren’t built for them, for example traditional education and career pathways rarely accommodate diverse learning styles or social communication differences. As a result, many autistic people are left behind long before they enter the job market. Hiring practices are not built for neurodiversity, most hiring processes rely heavily on interviews, first impressions, and social “fit” — areas that can be particularly inaccessible for autistic candidates. Eye contact, small talk, and navigating unspoken social rules are often weighted more heavily than actual skills or qualifications.

This leaves talented individuals excluded simply because the process doesn’t reflect differences in communication and thinking. For example an interviewer will rarely prompt if they need more context and examples of what they want to hear from an candidate which leads to feedback such as, “we would have liked more examples of xyz”. Strengths are often misunderstood, Autistic people often bring unique strengths to the workplace: deep focus, attention to detail, creative problem-solving, and exceptional memory or pattern recognition, to name just a few. Employers frequently overlook these abilities, either due to unconscious bias, or a lack of neurodiversity training. Instead employers and recruiters focus on perceived challenges without providing reasonable accommodations, flexibility or support, instead preferring cookie cutters and linear approaches to thinking.

The cost of invisibility in being shut out of the workforce isn’t just about lost income, it can mean isolation, a loss of identity, lack of empathy and compassion in working with differences, a feeling of being undervalued by society, and poorer in retirement. For autistic individuals who want to work, the systemic exclusion sends a clear and painful message: there’s no place for you here.

There is a need for change, this 73% unemployment rate isn’t inevitable — it’s a sign that something is broken. Inclusive hiring, better education-to-work transitions, and neurodiversity friendly workplaces can open the door to meaningful employment for autistic people, when that happens everyone benefits, businesses, communities, and society as a whole.

What we are doing about it, what we have built

Jobs for Autistic People is committed to addressing the staggering 73% unemployment rate among autistic individuals by taking a holistic and collaborative approach. We work directly with employers, recruiters, and training providers who are genuinely committed to building inclusive workplaces and hiring neurodivergent talent. By fostering these partnerships, we help create job opportunities that are accessible, meaningful, and suited to the unique strengths of autistic individuals.

Our approach is to research, collaborate and partner with supportive recruiters, employers and training providers in understanding the value of autistic people bring to the workforce. At the same time, we work to empower autistic job seekers with jobs, skills training, volunteering opportunities that will build their confidence and CV giving them direct connections to organisations that are serious about representation, long-term inclusion and closing in on the 73% unemployment rate amongst autistic people.

We are not another job search engine, we have enough of those, through this multi-layered model we aim not only to increase employment rates but to drive systemic change, challenging stigma, reshaping recruitment, and promoting environments where autistic people can contribute fully, confidently and thrive. Advertise your opportunities with us today – work with us.

How you can make impact and adopt systemic change

By advertising jobs for autistic people, you’re doing more than filling a position — you’re making a statement.

You’re showing that your organisation is committed to true inclusion, not just in words, but in action. You’re helping to close the staggering 73% unemployment rate among autistic people, one of the highest of any disability group and taking a meaningful step toward equity in the workplace.

For many autistic individuals, traditional recruitment pathways create invisible barriers, by actively creating and advertising roles that are inclusive and accessible, you signal that neurodiverse talent is welcome, valued, and respected in your organisation.

Your impact doesn’t stop there, by supporting initiatives that connect autistic people with meaningful employment, you’re also backing a grassroots organisation working tirelessly to reduce this inequality from the ground up. A community-led efforts that understand the problem intimately and is building solutions that are tailored, sustainable, and life-changing.

Whether you’re a large organisation looking to build a long-term inclusive hiring strategy, or a small business wanting to make a difference with a single hire, we’ve made the process easy, accessible, and impactful.

You can sign up for an annual membership, giving you access to post job opportunities throughout the year. This is the ideal option for employers who want to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to neurodiverse hiring and build lasting connections with autistic talent. It’s a powerful way to integrate inclusion into your recruitment strategy — not as an afterthought, but as a priority.

Or, if you’re just getting started, you can place one-off job ads at any time. This flexible option allows you to post individual roles and begin attracting applications from skilled, motivated autistic candidates without any long-term commitment. It’s a simple way to open the door and take your first step toward inclusive hiring.

No complicated processes. No red tape. Just a direct, meaningful way to connect with candidates who are often overlooked but full of potential.

We’ve removed the barriers — now it’s your turn to remove them from your hiring process.

The outcome we hope for and what we want from you

The outcome we’re working toward at Jobs for Autistic People is clear and deeply meaningful:

We are building a tailored, committed, and collaborative approach to employment, one that not only includes autistic people, but values, empowers, and benefits them and the employers who hire them.

This isn’t about ticking a box or meeting a quota. It’s about creating sustainable employment pathways that are designed with autistic individuals in mind — recognising their strengths, understanding their needs, and removing the systemic barriers that have kept far too many out of the workforce.

We can’t do this alone

We envision a model where employers are active partners in inclusion, shaping workplaces that support neurodiverse employees to thrive. This means listening, adapting, and committing to practices that work for everyone, from the application process, to the interview stage right through to career development.

When we do this right, everyone wins. This is more than corporate responsibility — it’s social leadership.

It’s about recognising that inclusion isn’t passive. It’s intentional. And by joining this movement, you’re not only diversifying your workforce, you’re actively contributing to a more just, empathetic, and forward-thinking society.

Autistic employees bring fresh perspectives, strong focus, creative problem-solving, and exceptional skillsets. Employers gain loyal, capable team members and become part of a forward-thinking movement that values human difference as a business and social strength.

Together, we can create a new standard — one where employment is truly inclusive, equitable, and collaborative.

Jobs for Autistic People is building one opportunity at a time. Work with us today.