AN UNTYPICAL WORKFORCE A different mind is a terrible thing to waste
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n ideal employee might be described as having an extraordinary capacity to focus, with an excellent concentration span, a remarkable eye for detail, and a gift for tasks that require precision. These are all gifts that an individual with autism might possess, and as such they could represent a great, untapped potential resource for business. As many people are wary of telling their employer about a diagnosis, and in women especially it is very underdiagnosed, it’s likely that part of your workforce may already contain an element of autism. If this is the case, what would happen if you actively sought out these skills and employed people who are autistic (with ASD as it’s known), and might your business prove more productive? There aren’t any solid figures to tell us how many people in the UK have autism, however it would be reasonable to assume it would be comparable with a country with a similar culture and standard of living, like the USA. If that is the case, as many as 1 in 68 people may have ASD. Symptoms can vary wildly; people with ASD can be nonverbal and unable to communicate or live independently, or have symptoms that are barely noticeable – and everything in between. Autism and Asperger’s (a high functioning form of autism which is included in ASD) is a vast spectrum; although 48% of those with autism will have learning disabilities, people with Asperger’s do not, they are of average or above average intelligence.
In addition to this, ASD seems to effect males and females differently. There are far more males diagnosed (five times more), but it is likely that this is to do with diagnosis criteria, and what traits doctors are on the lookout for. Given that symptoms vary wildly for different individuals we know that employment won’t be suitable for everyone. Many do want to work, however only 16% of those diagnosed have a full-time job, and another 16% are in part-time work. One of the best ways to improve these figures is to demonstrate how employers can benefit their business and staff, by hiring from the autistic pool. Businesses can benefit in some unexpected areas. People with ASD have a different way of looking at things and may have the ability to spot problems before they become an issue. They can thrive in jobs that require a strong attention to detail and extreme
You’re Hired! GREAT JOBS FOR THOSE WITH ASD
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Manufacturing
Technology
Repetitive movements in a structured environment can offer a very happy career for someone with ASD. Assembly lines or building anything from cars to computers can offer niche work they thrive with.
An obvious one perhaps, many leading software developers and computer programmers have been diagnosed with autism. Low social interaction, appreciating things being in order and understanding complex systems lead to a great fit.
NETWORKS
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Science Strong attention to every detail while sticking rigidly to procedures and thinking precisely means that this can be a great career choice.
Journalism and Research Lots of people with ASD love collecting and cataloguing facts and are generally good at leaving emotion at the door so potentially emotive pieces are more accurate.
