Employers are being urged to take steps towards creating a more autism-friendly workplace.
According to research, at least one in 65 people in Ireland is autistic.
85% of that number are estimated to be unemployed or under-employed.
Hiring platform IrishJobs.ie and the national autism charity, AsIAm, are today launching a campaign called 'Same Chance Commitment' which aims to address the situation by encouraging businesses to undertake a number of actions to help remove barriers for autistic people entering the workplace.
It also seeks to create more inclusive workspaces for Autistic people who are already in employment.
"We are already supporting employers to achieve this with our Same Chance toolkit, which offers a step-by-step guide to becoming an autism-friendly employer," Orla Moran, General Manager of hiring platform IrishJobs.ie said.
"With today's announcement we hope to make the journey for employers that bit easier by creating a dedicated pathway by which they can embrace diversity in its truest sense and create more inclusive working environments for Autistic people in Ireland," she added.
Adam Harris, CEO at AsIAm, the consequences of exclusion for Autistic people can be devastating, leading to social isolation, poor mental health, poverty and a higher mortality rate.
"Small accommodations by employers can remove barriers for Autistic people at work, but they can also unlock skills and abilities which helps businesses gain the competitive edge and think outside the box. The pandemic has shown us that it is possible to work differently and so presents unprecedented opportunities to create inclusive workplaces," he said.
