Are Aspies Unemployable - Who is working studying unemployed

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I'm self-employed, working half-time in my own business, mainly educating autism professionals about the spectrum. The other half of my time I'm being Mum, and that leaves practically no free time at all.

I've read some adult outcome studies that suggest the employment rate is somewhere between 28 % and 1 %, depending on country, but I don't trust those figures. None of them have even considered ways of estimating the numbers of adults with no diagnosis. The study participants are picked from health care data or contacted through associations, so naturally you get only those who have been motivated to get the diagnosis. Also, I believe the diagnostic criteria are interpreted with varying levels of strictness, so the studies are not necessarily comparable even to one another. The one thing they do seem to say, with some level of credibility, is that many basically employable people are going unemployed. Results from support services like Prospects in the UK seem to back this up, as does the success of Specialisterne in Denmark.

There needs to be an option for 'unemployed - non voluntary'.
I would like to have a job, but no one seems to want to keep me for more than a year, six months on average. The only job I have had that lasted more than a year was only because I was to much of a coward to leave an office bully boss, and that job was my entire world at that time so it was a very scary thing.

We are having a local election in my city, but the candidates seem to be mostly focused on cheezy jingles, putting their faces on bottled water, and bitching about each other. None of them has made any useful contributions to anything.

I recently heard a comment that unemployment in Australia is at a remarkably low rate. That means that people will be paying less attention to unemployment in NTs, and absolutely none to unemployment in those with disabilities. Mental abilities are given a fraction of the thought given to physical disabilities, and aspergers does not even rate as a disability here.
Which means that people look at me and make stupid suggestions for jobs that I 'should have no problems getting' .

Yeah, sorry - I totally forgot that one. I did post a call for moderator assistance early on in the thread but I'm sure they're busy with other things.

Anyway - do you think that it's your AS preventing you from getting/keeping a job.

If so, why?

Getting
- Interview Skills ?

Keeping
- Social Skills?

I'm keen to know more.

I see the employed are in the lead, so obviously it's possible.

I think you just need to find the right fit. I had some jobs that were just the worst for me, but now I'm fairly comfortable.

There was not an option that described what i do. I help run a venue with my boyfriend...sometimes it feels alot like being unemployed..especially since we are (temporarily) shut down with no current means of income...so now I am thinking about getting a job.

I have been working since high school....but the majority of my working career, i have been somewhat marginally employed..

The longest full-time job I ever had (aside from almost 5 years at Super Happy FUn Land) was for 2 years. It was a casual office job where I filed and worked as the switch board operator...I literally was hired because my dad and boyfriend at the time worked for the same company. I enjoyed it. It was very routine-oriented and getting lost in the routine allowed me to sorta live in my own little world....I did get sorta hen-pecked by the other office ladies for being a weirdo...but it was not unbearable.

In general, it is hard for me to find jobs. When I do find a job, it is usually the kind of job that is taken by someone much younger than me. It has been so long since i have been formally employed that I am kinda scared...

Even though I have had plenty of jobs over the years, sometimes I feel unemployable...I have horrible habits...I never know how to dress for work..I always look akward and dishevelled...I have trouble getting to work on time...I have trouble controlling my moods while at work..I have even burst into tears at job interviews...(kinda beyond my control)

At my last long-term job, where I worked part-time for several years my boss knew I had issues and it was ok with it. It was at an ice cream parlour...My boss was my age...all my co-workers were several years younger than me and several of them were ADDers as well...mostly heavily medicated college kids...(who seemed alot more together than me )

Also I have had my own custom sock monkey business, but eventually suffered from burnout...but am starting back up again....full steam ahead....

Recently, I had a revelation that I might be great as a performer at birthday parties for small children....I am very good at interracting with small kids....I play the ukulele and sing....i was invited to play at a little girl's second birthday party in a couple of months....

We will see how that goes.....(or maybe I am out of my mind)

poopylungstuffing,

Yeah, sorry about the missing option - it's happened to me twice now, so I wonder if I'm doing something wrong and it's not saving my last option in surveys.

Anyway, you're one of very few people who've responded in a way that makes it see like aspergers is preventing you from getting or keeping a job. So I'm quite interested in your response.

I can understand how you'd feel scared when you've been out of work for a while and are trying to get a job.. That's something NTs struggle with too.

The weirdness - that's all aspie. I feel that way most of the time too.

BTW: You used to have a sock monkey in your avatar (I think). Did you make it - Wow.

Kids' parties ... I'm sure you'd be great.

I recently heard a comment that unemployment in Australia is at a remarkably low rate. That means that people will be paying less attention to unemployment in NTs, and absolutely none to unemployment in those with disabilities. Mental abilities are given a fraction of the thought given to physical disabilities, and aspergers does not even rate as a disability here.
Which means that people look at me and make stupid suggestions for jobs that I 'should have no problems getting' .[/quote]

Ditto 100%, I get that all the time,well I think I get that all the time,and it makes me feel really stupid.I had a job for 2 weeks nightfilling at a supermarket which I thought was going to be perfect.
Not having to talk to anyone,everything lined up neatly and I just quit over the phone because I didn't think I was doing a good job.Everyone else seemed to be faster.Maybe mine was neater but that didn't seem to matter.It was just I felt so embarressed about not performing to the expectation.

I doubt few who are unemployed can afford a computer so the poll is going to be skewed.

Yikes,

Very good point

I've had computers and internet/fidonet access for so long that I often forget that there are people out there without computers.

gbollard, Whoever came up with that figure is (imho): Full of sh(t....

Ranting aside, I feel that if an aspie matures enough, gets good enough with social skills (and stamina), finds a job that's right for them (their passion, obsession etc) then I know it can work.

On a side note, I once heard of a study (or something ) where they found that the most successful fields for aspies were Academia and computers...go figure. XD

Yeah, I figured the statistic was wrong but just wanted to be in a position to prove it.

Funny, I've worked in both.
Computers forever and teaching computers part time for a few years.

Apparently that statistic isn't so far-fetched. Here is a citation from the National Autistic Society (UK): "Only 12% of those with high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome had full-time jobs".

Link: http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?a=4508&d=475

I'm unemployed and looking, not too long ago I had an interview but I don't think anything is going to come of it which is unfortunet because I was really scared going for that interview.

oh my god. O.o

Schooling until next month (officially in July) and yet to be seen whether I'm employable or not after that. Current state, unemployable, if any changes occur, then hopefully employable! Due to ASD alone (official dx status Asperger's).

I have always worked, in spite of being listed as moderately to severly unemployable. I apply for jobs until someone finally says "ok we will give you a try." After I start, they almost always overlook my eccentricities because I am good at what I do. I feel fortunate today - I am one of the 12%