Employers’ perception of the costs and the benefits of hiring individuals with autism spectrum disorder in open employment in Australia
JournalPLOS ONE
AuthorsMelissa Scott, Andrew Jacob, Delia Hendrie, Richard Parsons, Sonya Girdler, Torbjorn Falkmer, Marita Falkmer
PublishedMay 2017
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177607
Number of Pages16
Research has examined the benefits and costs of employing adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from the perspective of the employee, taxpayer and society, but few studies have considered the employer perspective. This study examines the benefits and costs of employing adults with ASD, from the perspective of employers. Fifty-nine employers employing adults with ASD in open employment were asked to complete an online survey comparing employees with and without ASD on the basis of job similarity. The findings suggest that employing an adult with ASD provides benefits to employers and their organisations without incurring additional costs.
Related Projects
Maximising the potential of employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Despite legislation requiring the same employment opportunities be given to people with and without a disability, Australia has among the lowest rates of employment of people with disability in the OECD. Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a particularly... Read article
The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre team acknowledges the Wadjuk Nyungar people as the traditional owners of the land on which the Centre is situated.