Employment Support for Autistic People | Find Work & Get the Right Support
Looking for work as an autistic person - or trying to make your current job work better for you - can feel overwhelming. But with the right support, you don't have to do it alone.
In this article, we'll cover:
How to find inclusive, autism-friendly job opportunities
The workplace support and reasonable adjustments you're entitled to
Step-by-step help with Access to Work and disclosure decisions
Read on if you're ready to build a more supportive working life that works with your autism, not against it.
Why Employment Support Matters for Autistic People
If you've ever felt that the world of work wasn't designed with you in mind, you're not imagining it. The reality is that many systems still don't reflect the needs of neurodivergent people, especially autistic folks.
The 2024 Buckland Review of Autism Employment (UK Government Report) revealed that only 30% of working-age autistic people are in employment. That's compared with over half of all disabled people and more than 80% of the general population. But this gap isn't there because of a lack of ability or effort. It, in fact, highlights how many workplaces continue to exclude people with autism, often unintentionally.
If you've faced job descriptions that don't make sense, noisy interview rooms, or anxiety about whether to disclose your diagnosis, remember that these aren't personal failings. They are external barriers, and they are solvable.
With the right support for autistic employees - including clear communication, flexible environments, and practical help like Access to Work - you can thrive.
It’s not about whether someone is capable of doing their job.
it’s about whether that job is accessible.
You deserve tools, adjustments, and environments that let you work in the way that works for you.
How to Find a Job if You're Autistic
We bring many strengths to the workplace - focus, creativity, honesty, attention to detail, pattern recognition, and fresh perspectives, to name just a few. But often, the standard job search process doesn’t reflect that.
If you want to find a job as an autistic person, you’re already starting with valuable qualities. The key is finding environments and employers that recognise and support you.
Here are some practical steps to help you:
Use inclusive job boards like Enna and Evenbreak that actively welcome autistic and disabled applicants
Search for "autism friendly jobs near me" or roles listed by Disability Confident employers
Look for workplaces that offer structure, clarity, and flexibility in how and where you work
If you need a little extra help figuring out what's next for you, a job coach or support worker who understands autism and employment can help you navigate options that fit you instead of trying to force you to fit the system.
What Support Is Available at Work?
Workplaces often rely on one-size-fits-all systems that don’t reflect how autistic people think, communicate or thrive. That’s not a reflection of your ability - it’s a sign the system needs to change.
You might find the lighting too bright, the office too noisy, or the social expectations exhausting. Instructions may feel unclear, or your working hours may leave you completely burnt out by the time you get home. Remember, these aren’t personal failures. They are signs that the environment around you needs to adapt.
Support for autistic employees isn’t about special treatment but fairness. The Equality Act 2010 gives you the legal right to a “reasonable adjustment” - a change that removes a disadvantage you face because of how your workplace is set up.
Employers must consider adjustments in areas like:
Policies and practices, such as offering written instructions instead of verbal ones or changing how performance is reviewed
The physical environment, like providing a desk in a quieter area or adjusting lighting
Extra tools or people, such as assistive technology or assigning a workplace mentor
Many reasonable adjustments are free or low-cost. And where they involve funding - like specialist equipment or coaching - schemes like Access to Work can help.
The National Autistic Society offers an in-depth guide to reasonable adjustments at work, written to support autistic people and those advocating alongside them. It explains your legal rights under the Equality Act, gives examples of common adjustments, and shares tips for how to ask for what you need. It also includes real-life examples to help you understand what’s possible in different roles.
You can explore the complete guide here: reasonable adjustments at work.
Under the Equality Act, you have the right to reasonable adjustments at work.
You don’t need to struggle in silence or prove you’re worthy of support - it’s already yours by law.
Should I Disclose My Autism at Work?
You can choose whether to disclose your autism at work. Some people feel more supported after disclosure, while others prefer not to share.
You might decide to disclose if you want:
Adjustments or support
To encourage inclusion and awareness
You can still request reasonable adjustments and apply for Access to Work without disclosing your diagnosis, although your employer would be aware that you applied to Access to Work and know the list of things you were awarded. Choose the approach that feels safest and most empowering for you.
Access to Work: Practical Support for Autistic Employees
Access to Work is a UK government scheme that provides funding for support for autistic employees and others with disabilities or long-term conditions. It exists to help level the playing field - not because you can’t do the job, but because you shouldn’t have to work twice as hard just to be included.
You might be eligible if you:
Are in paid employment or about to start a job
Are a freelancer, or are self-employed
Need adjustments, equipment, or personal support to do your role well
Through Access to Work, you may be able to get funding for things like:
A job coach or support worker who understands autism and employment
Regular mental health support or wellbeing check-ins
Assistive technology such as noise-cancelling headphones, dictation software or ergonomic tools
Help with travel costs if public transport is inaccessible
Support to implement reasonable adjustments at work
The process can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when you're already juggling the challenges of work, energy, and advocating for yourself, but you don’t have to navigate it alone.
At Anita’s Neurodiversity Consultancy, I offer one-to-one support with Access to Work applications. That means breaking it down step by step, helping you identify what you can ask for, and advocating alongside you to make sure your needs are clearly understood.
Support shouldn’t be something you have to fight for. With the right help in place, you can stop working around barriers and start working in a way that works for you.
Need support applying? Book a 1:1 Access to Work consultation today.
Key Takeaways
Work doesn’t need to be something you survive. With the right support - clear communication, reasonable adjustments, and funding through Access to Work - you can genuinely thrive in it.
You don’t have to navigate disclosure, burnout, or inaccessible systems alone; support for autistic employees exists not because you need fixing, but because the world of work is still catching up.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Jobs for Autistic People
What job is best for someone with autism?
Many autistic people bring incredible strengths to the workplace like attention to detail, deep focus, logical thinking, and strong memory skills. The best job is one that plays to these strengths and provides a clear, structured environment.
Roles such as web developer, data officer, copywriter, and policy adviser often align well with the ways autistic people think and work. These roles value precision, clarity, independent work, and specialist knowledge.
Ultimately, the best job depends on your personal interests, sensory needs, and preferred ways of working. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are many roles where autistic people thrive.
Explore more examples in this guide from Exceptional Individuals.
How to work through autistic burnout?
Autistic burnout is so much more than just feeling tired. It's a state of intense physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by long-term stress, sensory overload, and the ongoing pressure to mask or meet others’ expectations.
If you’re experiencing burnout, you might feel completely drained, more sensitive to sounds or lights, or can’t function as usual. It can show up as headaches, shutdowns, or even loss of speech.
But burnout isn’t a personal failing on your part. It’s a sign you’ve been working too hard just to exist in systems that weren’t built for you.
You can find more guidance in this article from the National Autistic Society.
Are 85% of autistic people unemployed?
This figure often gets quoted, but it's not fully accurate. According to the 2024 Buckland Review of Autism Employment, the employment rate for working-age autistic adults in the UK is around 30%. While this number is still far too low, it’s more reliable than the often-cited 85% figure, which lacks an official source.
What matters most is what that 30% tells us: that autistic people face significant, systemic barriers to employment. And that’s not because of a lack of talent, motivation, or ability. Many barriers are avoidable when workplaces offer clear communication, flexible environments, and neurodiversity-informed support.
Beyond improving these statistics, the goal is to build inclusive systems where autistic people can access meaningful, fulfilling work without needing to mask or constantly self-advocate.
