Adults with an autism spectrum disorder possess varied and powerful strengths, including intense focus, superb memory, and unconventional creativity. Unfortunately, employers around the U.S. are missing out on these aptitudes.
Recent decades have witnessed a wave of new resources for children with autism. Physicians and educators have made admirable progress in identifying and meeting these children’s needs, empowering them to thrive in school settings.
Yet, when these children reach adulthood, they find few opportunities for appropriate and meaningful work. In fact, adults with autism are less likely to obtain employment compared to other special needs populations, such as people with intellectual disabilities.
When they have advanced credentials, people with autism can find it particularly difficult to obtain suitable positions. 85% of college graduates with an autism spectrum disorder are unemployed. Among other college graduates, by contrast, unemployment levels currently sit below 5%.
Despite these concerning figures, many adults with autism do find fulfilling work, applying themselves in roles that reflect their strengths. Indeed, some of the country’s largest corporations are actively seeking to hire employees with autism, acknowledging that they’ve ignored this group’s potential for too long. Beyond simply bringing these candidates on board, these companies are investing in the support they’ll need to succeed.
What sort of professional roles are particularly well-suited to someone with autism? It’s difficult to answer this question in general terms because an autism spectrum disorder is complex and heterogeneous. A job that might strike one person as perfect will completely turn another off. Just like other job seekers, people with autism have varied strengths, interests, and preferences.
It is possible, however, to highlight some careers in which adults with autism might thrive. In this article, we’ll describe roles in which people with autism have found success and financial self-sufficiency. In most cases, they utilize skills that are common within the autism spectrum disorder community. They also avoid or minimize elements that could prove distressing to some professionals with autism.
Ready to discover some possible career paths for yourself or a loved one with autism? Keep reading to consider these exciting opportunities.
Five Fulfilling Fields for Adults with Autism
1. Accounting
The link between autism and mathematical prowess is well-established. Mathematicians are several times more likely than the average person to have an autism spectrum disorder. Mathematics entails extensive systematization and pattern recognition, two areas in which people on the spectrum often excel. To the world’s leading accounting firms, this truth is abundantly clear.
In recent years, accounting behemoths such as Ernst & Young have made a concerted effort to recruit individuals with special needs, particularly those with autism. These inclusive hiring practices aren’t purely altruistic. These firms benefit immensely from the contribution of employees with an autism spectrum disorder. More generally, this push for “neurodiversity” brings distinct and valuable perspectives into the corporate culture.
Not all people on the spectrum enjoy repeatedly performing complex calculations, but if you enjoy crunching numbers and excel within a highly systematized set of rules, such as the corporate tax code, accounting could be an ideal career.
2. Computer Programming
Coding demands attention to detail. A single error can render thousands of lines of code utterly useless. Individuals with autism often possess outstanding focus, catching small differences and deviations. If you’re fascinated by computers, programming could offer a compelling and lucrative career path.
In fact, coding utilizes several strengths that are common within the autism spectrum disorder community. In some moments, programming requires creative problem-solving within challenging constraints. In others, coding demands a meticulous, consistent approach to eliminating error. For some professionals with autism, this mix may be ideal.
Microsoft has taken note, stepping up its efforts to hire individuals on the spectrum in a range of technical roles. The company is wise to do so. In the cutthroat competition for tech talent, it’s reaching out to a whole new community of potential candidates.
3. Finance
The financial sector has long revered certain individuals with autism, lionizing their distinctive ways of interpreting data. While icons such as “Bond King” Bill Gross have exemplified opportunities for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder, many others have been excluded. In an industry governed by corporate conventions, smart people on the spectrum have struggled to carve their own paths.
Companies such as JPMorgan Chase are intent on changing that. With its "Autism at Work" initiative, the firm has sought to extend opportunities to professionals on the spectrum, incorporating them in multiple roles. From quality assurance to financial analysis, people with an autism spectrum disorder are thriving throughout the company.
JPMorgan Chase isn’t the only financial titan seeking talented people on the spectrum. Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank have followed suit, adapting their hiring and recruiting processes to help applicants with special needs showcase their strengths. For certain adults with autism, the world of financial models and complex systems could be the perfect field.
4. Administration and Human Resources
No organization can grow and thrive without creating mountains of paperwork – in the literal or digital sense. From payroll to taxes, benefits to invoices, there’s a ton to track on a daily basis. To many professionals, these tasks are time-consuming and unappealing. They struggle to stay focused and avoid them at all costs.
For people with autism, these core business activities can be a chance to shine. As with other careers we’ve discussed, attention to detail and sustained focus are essential attributes in these administrative roles.
Moreover, the repetitive nature of these tasks can be a comfort to some people on the spectrum. Whereas others would grow tired of repetitive tasks, these individuals thrive within a consistent system.
Additionally, human resources professionals and administrators may be more informed about the nature of autism than people in other departments. As a result of their training and expertise, they may be well-acquainted with the benefits of neurodiversity in the workplace and knowledgeable about accommodations for employees with special needs. Accordingly, they could be great colleagues and collaborators, supporting you as you excel.
5. Engineering and Manufacturing
Many people with autism are fascinated by machines and devices. Experts note that children with an autism spectrum disorder are often drawn to trains, which feature compelling mechanisms and countless integrated parts. Why not apply these interests in adulthood, helping to build complex products and gadgets?
In recent years, opportunities have emerged for individuals on the spectrum to pursue design and engineering skills. The National Science Foundation recently launched an initiative to teach basic engineering principles to middle school students on the spectrum. Ultra Testing, an engineering and quality assurance company, recently made headlines because three-quarters of its staff has autism.
In the manufacturing sector, individuals on the spectrum can also excel, helping to design and monitor complex production systems. Large-scale manufacturing businesses are actively recruiting these employees, who are especially successful in spotting threats to quality. Here too, comfort with repetitive processes can be a real advantage.
These positions can entail abstract data analysis, or on-the-ground observation, and participation in production. Ford, for example, has made an effort to bring employees on the spectrum into the company’s facilities based in Dearborn, Michigan, employing them in several different capacities.
Finding a Fit: Special Needs and Strengths
These five career possibilities are but a beginning. Professionals with autism enjoy an ever-growing number of opportunities. It’s possible that none of these particular options appeal to you or your loved one – but that’s no reason to stop hunting for appropriate alternatives.
In pursuing employment, people with autism can utilize a number of relevant resources and programs. Although local options vary from community to community, national organizations should be able to assist your search. Here are two organizations to consider for job search support.
TheSpectrumCareers.com is a comprehensive job search site tailored to adults with an autism spectrum disorder. From rich resources on various aspects of the hiring process – including help with resumes and cover letters – to specific job listings from spectrum-friendly employers, this site has everything you need to get started. Best of all, TheSpectrumCareers is thoughtfully inclusive, with content for parents, loved ones, and job seekers themselves.
Autism Speaks, a leading information and advocacy organization for autism-related issues, also offers many employment resources on its website. Its “Employment Tool Kit” is especially helpful, guiding individuals and families through the process of identifying and pursuing suitable careers.
As your search develops, we’d be happy to help however we can. At Joblist.com, we’ve prioritized personalized searching, eliminating the endless scrolling through irrelevant listings. You can look for opportunities with specific companies, or focus your search on precise job titles. Most importantly, we collect our listings from a range of job sites, so you’ll never need to worry about missing the perfect opportunity.
We’re here to help you showcase your strengths. Give our platform a try and discover the opportunities out there.
