Challenges for females with high functioning autism in the workplace: a systematic review

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Hayward, S. M., McVilly, K. R., & Stokes, M. A. (2016). Challenges for females with high functioning autism in the workplace: a systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 40(3), 249-258. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2016.1254284

Publication date: 7 Dec 2016 Added to AutiHub: 5 Oct 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

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Authors

Publication authors
3
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 3 (33.3%)

Abstract

PURPOSE: Individuals with High Functioning Autism (HFA) experience high levels of underemployment and unemployment, resulting in negative economic, social, and health outcomes. Given what is known about labor market participation difficulties experienced by women generally, and the paucity of research concerning women with HFA, this systematic review synthesized what is known about the labor market experiences of women with HFA. METHOD: A systematic review of the literature concerning adult females with HFA in relation to the workplace yielded 1947 results; 11 met inclusion criteria being based on original data, but not necessarily focusing solely on women. RESULTS: The total number participants with HFA across all studies was 731 (M = 66.45, SD = 95.44, Mdn = 18.00) aged between 18 and 70 years (M = 34.38, SD = 7.71); females represented 38% (n = 279) of those sampled. The principal challenges reported for individuals with HFA at work were communication, social interaction, and stress, together with negative mental and physical health. CONCLUSION: These results should be interpreted with caution. Of the studies found, 73% were qualitative and based on small samples. Only one paper differentiated female data in analyses. These factors combined suggest large-scale mixed method research focused on females with HFA is required to gain an accurate insight into the challenges faced in the workplace, to in turn inform intervention and support. However, implications for rehabilitation based on what is known are discussed. Implication for Rehabilitation Unemployment and underemployment of persons with High Functioning Autism (HFA) poses social, health and economic issues for both individuals and the wider community. Those with HFA have the intellectual capacity to make a substantial contribution to the workplace. Based on what is known, some of the challenges for females with HFA might be similar to those experienced by men with HFA, however it is possible that there are gender-based differences (in both type and severity of challenges) that require attention.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 17 Oct 2026 01:01.

Cited references
70
With a DOI
47
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
23
0 / 70 (0.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
18 / 70 (25.7%)
References with detected author names
57 / 70 (81.4%)
Without detected author names
13
Without a structured title
17
Without a stable identifier
21
References with raw author names still to review
12
References with external metadata lookup issues
1
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
253
From DOI or external metadata
253
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
12
38 / 253 (15.0%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 215 / 253 (85.0%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
0 / 253 (0.0%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 0 / 38 (0.0%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 0 / 238 (0.0%).
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