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Autistic Adults: Employment
11 November 2025
Lead MP
Lisa Smart
Hazel Grove
LD
Responding Minister
Dame Diana Johnson
Tags
Employment
Word Count: 9579
Other Contributors: 10
At a Glance
Lisa Smart raised concerns about autistic adults: employment in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Lisa asks for the government to promote opportunities and provide bespoke internship schemes like those offered by Stockport council to help autistic individuals thrive in their careers.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The issue of employment barriers faced by autistic individuals has risen in prominence due to increased awareness and diagnosis. Lisa Smart mentions specific cases, such as Tom Boyd's difficulties with Waitrose and her constituent Bradley who struggles to secure a job despite his qualifications.
Anna Dixon
Lab
Shipley
Anna mentions a niece who successfully trained as a work coach and assists those with neurodiversity or health conditions in finding employment, highlighting the value of lived experience training for employers. Agreed that the system needs to be more flexible for neurodivergent individuals, suggesting a central online hub of best practices for employers and training programs for businesses.
Baggy Shanker
Lab/Co-op
Derby South
Agreed that services such as Autism West Midlands are vital in building skills and confidence for autistic people to work successfully. Questioned whether the current support network is sufficient.
Al Pinkerton
LD
Surrey Heath
Discussed his constituent John's experience with prolonged unemployment and lack of support from Access to Work. Emphasised the need for both employees and employers to be educated on facilitating economic independence.
Lisa Smart
Lab
Leicester East
Grateful to all contributors, highlighting fragmented support and importance of employer support. Disappointed about Workbridge closure.
Mike Reader
Lab
Northampton South
Emphasised the importance of stable and secure employment for people with autism, highlighting that only about three in ten working-age autistic people are employed despite their desire to work. Mentioned Workbridge, a local organisation providing support and opportunities, which is set to close due to funding issues. Acknowledged the need for reform while also highlighting local organisations working hard to support people with SEND in Northampton. Discussed Workbridge and expressed disappointment over certain issues while also highlighting Nordis Signs' long-term commitment to employing people with disabilities.
Tiverton and Minehead
She supports the need for promoting employment opportunities for autistic people, citing the importance of having goals like internships to work towards.
Rebecca Smith
Con
South West Devon
Autistic adults face especially high barriers to entering and staying in work, with only 16% of autistic adults employed full-time. The Buckland review highlighted that autistic graduates are twice as likely to be unemployed after 15 months compared to non-disabled graduates. Praised Alistair's transition from volunteering to paid work but suggested that previous government achievements might have been overestimated. Sought clarification on the numbers of Pathways to Work advisers and disability employment advisers mentioned by the Minister.
Shockat Adam
Ind
Leicester South
Discussed the challenges faced by neurodivergent adults in securing employment, citing statistics such as only three in ten autistic adults of working age being employed and less than half of autistic graduates finding work within 15 months. Stressed the importance of supporting businesses in working with neurodiverse individuals and improving employment opportunities for them.
Julian Smith
Con
Skipton and Ripon
Emphasised the importance of matching companies willing to hire neurodivergent employees with suitable candidates, highlighting positive examples like FinTrU in Derry.
Tom Gordon
LD
Harrogate and Knaresborough
Congratulated the hon. Member for Hazel Grove on securing the debate and noted best practices in Stockport that support neurodivergent individuals entering the workforce. Agreed that there are great examples of support out there, but advocated for a system that holds these up and champions them across the country. Highlighted the significance of addressing SEND issues properly and mentioned the role of Access to Work in helping disabled individuals.
Government Response
Dame Diana Johnson
The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions
Government Response
Acknowledged the importance of addressing low employment rates among disabled individuals, particularly those who are neurodivergent. Highlighted that only 34% of autistic people are employed compared to around 55% of disabled people overall. Emphasised the government's commitment to achieving an 80% overall employment rate and providing £1 billion for Connect to Work programme to assist up to 300,000 individuals by the end of this decade. Discussed initiatives such as the independent panel reviewing neurodiversity in the workplace, Pathways to Work programme with more than 1,000 full-time equivalent advisers, disability employment advisors, reforms to the jobs and careers service, youth guarantee trailblazers for young people not in education or training, and a guaranteed paid work offer for those on universal credit for 18 months without earnings.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.