A Literature Review on High-functioning Autistic Employees

Abstract

This literature review aims to contribute to the field of autism and employment. It will analyse bibliographic data on peer-reviewed research on the benefits and challenges of a neurodiverse workforce. Similarly, it will examine the experiences of high-functioning autistic people in the workplace. Despite reports in popular media on the benefits of a neurodiverse workplace, including better innovation and company performance – there is very little academic research to support these claims. Of the limited existing literature, there are very few articles in business and management journals. This review gathers empirical evidence to test such claims. The research is based on high-functioning autistic people (verbal, with average or above IQ). Autism will be referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from here on, which includes Asperger syndrome under the criteria of the DSM-5. 

Data from peer-reviewed research articles on high-functioning autism, employment and adults in the Social Sciences Citation Index were analysed to gauge the current trends in publication and citation. This database was chosen to limit the medical literature, which is extensive and an entirely different field. The data indicates that research on the experiences autistic employees, and their employers, up to recent years has been an understudied field. Based on the analysis used for this study, research and interest in this field began to emerge in publications in 2005. This review identified high-functioning autism as an increasingly important factor to consider in designing hiring and recruitment processes. It is also a significant consideration in conflict-resolution, communication and the training and support areas of management. Considering the steep increase in autism diagnoses over the past 30 years, coupled with the supports made available to autistic people up to third-level education; a more neurodivergent, educated talent pool is emerging which will change the way managers approach and manage diversity in the workplace.