“I’ve Absolutely Reached Rock Bottom and Have No Energy”: The Lived Experience of Unemployed and Underemployed Autistic Adults

Abstract

Background: Autistic adults are underrepresented in the employment market, and those in work are commonly underemployed. Our study aimed to gain an understanding of autistic adults' experiences of unemployment and underemployment. Methods: Eight autistic adults who self-identified as currently unemployed or underemployed who were actively seeking to change their employment status participated in semi-structured interviews, analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: (managing mental health difficulties; importance of self-understanding). Participants felt paralyzed by employment experiences, which impacted their confidence to progress with their career aspirations. Autistic people felt misunderstood, judged, and powerless within support systems, which had implications for their mental health. Participants recognized the importance of managing their mental health needs during times of unemployment and underemployment via self-care and seeking psychological support. Conclusion: Putting resource into understanding, acknowledging, and addressing processes within and around employment should be priorities for policy makers if they are serious about improving support to help autistic people find and stay in work. Community Brief: This study helps us better understand the experiences of unemployed and underemployed autistic adults and the barriers they face. Our findings highlight the importance of putting resource into understanding, acknowledging, and addressing these issues around employment for autistic people. This will be imperative for organizations and policy makers if they are serious about improving the employment rates and addressing needs of autistic people.

Topics & Concepts