School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Autism Res. 2021 Oct;14(10):2061-2077. doi: 10.1002/aur.2588. Epub 2021 Aug 10.
Autistic adults experience a high number of job changes, reduced working hours, minimal workplace supports, and overrepresentation in entry-level and low paid positions. This study adds to the existing evidence base to guide clinical decisions and interventions for this population. This study utilized baseline data collected between 2015 and 2017 from the Autism CRC's Australian Longitudinal Study of Autism in Adulthood. The aim was to describe the employment profiles and explore factors related to employment for Australian autistic adults aged 25 and older (N = 149). Comparisons between participants and the Australian workforce were made using Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data. Two logistic regression models were conducted to explore the association between underemployment and underutilisation with personal and environmental factors. In comparison to the Australian workforce, autistic adults were more likely to work part-time, work reduced hours and be employed at skill levels lower than their qualifications warranted. Logistic regressions reported that more autistic traits, more social supports and having workplace adjustments implemented were significantly associated with a higher odds of autistic adults being appropriately employed and/or utilized in the workforce. Results suggest that interventions implementing appropriate workplace adjustments, a supportive workplace environment, and adequate social supports may improve employment outcomes for autistic adults. All employees may benefit from workplace resources targeted toward fostering an inclusive workplace environment. LAY SUMMARY: This study aimed to describe the employment profiles and explore factors related to employment for Australian autistic adults. We compared this with the Australian workforce using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Autistic adults with more autistic traits and more social and workplace supports were more likely to be employed and have jobs that were better suited to them. Autistic adults might have better employment outcomes if they have the appropriate workplace adjustments, a supportive workplace and adequate social supports.
自闭症成年人经历了大量的工作变动、工作时间减少、工作场所支持最小化，以及在入门级和低薪职位中过度代表。本研究增加了现有证据基础，以指导为这一人群提供临床决策和干预措施。本研究利用自闭症 CRC 的澳大利亚成年人自闭症纵向研究在 2015 年至 2017 年期间收集的基线数据。目的是描述就业概况，并探讨与澳大利亚 25 岁及以上自闭症成年人就业相关的因素（N=149）。使用澳大利亚统计局（ABS）的数据将参与者与澳大利亚劳动力进行了比较。进行了两项逻辑回归模型，以探讨就业不足和利用不足与个人和环境因素之间的关联。与澳大利亚劳动力相比，自闭症成年人更有可能从事兼职工作、减少工作时间和从事低于其资格要求的技能水平的工作。逻辑回归报告称，更多的自闭症特征、更多的社会支持以及实施工作场所调整与自闭症成年人在劳动力中更有可能获得适当就业和/或利用的几率更高显著相关。结果表明，实施适当的工作场所调整、支持性的工作环境和足够的社会支持的干预措施可能会改善自闭症成年人的就业结果。所有员工都可能受益于针对营造包容性工作环境的工作场所资源。
