5 Reasons Why Autistic Unemployment Rate is High
Autistic people despite their skills find it hard to find and secure employment in organizations of their choice.
Other disabilities they have might also limit them from exploring some types of employment or places of employment.
Many organizations are yet to be inclusive in their hiring options including autistic people.
Hence, companies are yet to be receptive to hiring autistic people.
This has led to a high rate of unemployment among autistic people.
Unemployment among autistic people affects them in a lot of ways; causes mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, isolation, and suicide.
It also puts a lot of burden on their family due to the financial demands and additional cost of care.
They, therefore, need all the support they can get.
Many reasons account for why the autistic unemployment rate is high.
One major reason is the stigma and discrimination that autistic people experience.
This prevents them from many opportunities that may otherwise be accessible to them.
Due to their disability, some of them may not have the necessary skills or qualifications needed on the job.
This makes their unemployment rate very high.
The job-seeking process too can be very challenging for them.
They may have to apply over a long period of time or may not find suitable employment for themselves.
The absence of job-training programs also makes autistic people ill-equipped for different job roles.
Lack of support and accommodations at workplaces also deters them from seeking full-time employment.
5 reasons why the autistic unemployment rate is high are discussed below:
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Stigma and Discrimination
Most people have a poor understanding and misconceptions about the autism spectrum.
Since they do not understand what autism is all about, it affects their perception of people with autism.
This also explains why the autistic unemployment rate is high.
At times, the fact that a job-seeker has autism creates prejudice in the mind of employers.
This leads to the stigmatization of people with autism and doubt about their competence.
Many employers, whether they disclose it or not, would prefer to hire a person without autism rather than a person with autism.
This has caused devastating consequences for people with autism such as feelings of insecurity, depression, anxiety, and suicide.
Lack of Skills
Some autistic people may suffer from intellectual and physical disabilities which may make it difficult to acquire important skills that are needed for a job.
Some of them also lack the necessary technical and educational qualifications required for most jobs.
This is because most of them due to their disability cannot stay in school or are unable to proceed to college on their own.
In the absence of these skills and their disability, they might be unable to secure employment or cope with the demands of a job.
This is one of the reasons why the autistic unemployment rate is high.
For instance, many of them prefer structured routines and find it hard to be flexible.
They would therefore be unable to cope with a job that requires them to be flexible or innovative.
Due to their poor social skills, they may also find networking with their colleagues or working in a team difficult.
And this is one of the important things to do in a workplace.
Shortage of Job Training Programs
The phase between graduating college and getting a job is both life-changing and challenging, especially for autistic people.
There is currently a shortage of training opportunities for autistic people seeking a job.
And there is inadequate support for job placement.
Companies that organize on-the-job training for their new hires also fail to accommodate the differences between autistic people.
This training is meant to equip them with the relevant skills needed on the job, how to easily transition into the job role, and provide a guide on how to cope with their job roles.
The absence of these programs has drastically reduced their chances of getting a job or coping with a full-time job role.
And is a reason why the autistic unemployment rate is high.
Difficulties in Job Seeking
Many people complain that the 'job-hunting' process is extremely hard.
The job-hunting process is highly competitive and even more difficult for autistic job-seekers.
The challenging job-hunting process might discourage them from seeking full-time employment.
This is one of the reasons why the autistic unemployment rate is high.
Their disability and limited skills also affect how effective they would be while seeking employment.
The belief that autistic people are most suitable for a particular role due to their success in Information Technology (IT) and finance or due to movie tropes also affects them negatively.
This prevents them from offering them other types of job opportunities.
However, this is not the case since autistic people have skills that are much more diverse from those roles and can work at any kind of organization.
This stereotype, however, limits autistic people from vast job opportunities.
Absence of Workplace Accommodations
From the job hunting stage through the job interview stage up to the employment stage, most companies do not have accommodations for autistic people.
For instance, autistic people usually find traditional job interview questions overwhelming.
They may also answer questions slowly, be blunt during conversations, throw a temper fit or miss social cues during interviews.
Some companies may offer them very low salaries or act like autistic people should be grateful for the offer of employment.
They also make it look like they are doing the person a favor by employing them.
While on the job too, autistic people may find it difficult to integrate into the system and to relate well with their colleagues.
Accommodations such as a quiet work environment, working in smaller teams, or directly with a supervisor may be absent.
Only a few companies have programs to teach them how to navigate the workplace and help them integrate into the workforce.
When faced with all these challenges, autistic people may not want to take up full-time roles or resign from their jobs.
The absence of workplace support and accommodation deters them and is one of the reasons why the autistic unemployment rate is high.
Conclusion
Many autistic people have the skills and ability to get a job.
The reasons why the autistic unemployment rate is high are; stigma and discrimination by employers and colleagues, absence of relevant work-related skills, challenges they face while seeking a job, inadequate job training, and workplace accommodations.
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