About the project

About the project

Increasing the inclusion of people on the autism spectrum in the open labour market.

Increasing the inclusion of people on the autism spectrum in the open labour market.

 Why we started the JobAut project

In Europe today, an estimated 7 million autistic people live with immense potential, yet between 75% and 90% of autistic adults are unemployed (Autism-Europe). This isn’t due to a lack of competencies, but rather to systemic barriers that limit their access to inclusive employment opportunities.

Autistic people often face:

  • A lack of adapted and accessible education and training pathways, particularly within Vocational Education and Training (VET)

  • Persistent stigma and misunderstandings about autism

  • A mismatch between autistic people’s skills and labour market
  • Limited access to specialised support, due to a shortage of professional training programmes and dedicated curricula for job coaches, especially within Health and Social Care Services Systems (HSCSS)

While many employers are becoming more open to inclusive hiring and committed to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, they often lack the necessary knowledge, tools, and confidence to adapt their workplaces for autistic people.

Enhance the competencies of Job Coaches

Provide specialised training for job coaches to strengthen their ability to support autistic people in finding, obtaining, and maintaining fulfilling employment.

Increase acces
to job placement

Create individualised training and career paths that match  autistic people’s strengths, interests, and personal aspirations with suitable job opportunities.

Overcome the
skills mismatch

Overcome the mismatch on the labour market by fostering the match between qualified autistic workers and job vacancies.

End
the stigma

Challenge stereotypes and shift the focus from ‘disability to ability’ to build a more inclusive work culture.

our mission

JobAut aims to bridge this gap by redefining and evolving the role of job coaches through specialised training and holistic methodologies tailored to the needs of autistic job seekers. By reshaping the job coaching methodologies, JobAut creates a virtuous circle that meets the needs of both autistic people and employers:

  • Job coaches will be better equipped to help autistic job seekers identify their competencies, build confidence, and define their career goals. This is key to matching tasks with companies to the strengths and ambitions of autistic people and improve their access to successful job placement.

  • At the same time, they will raise awareness among employers about the benefits of hiring autistic people and advise them on best practices and workplace accommodations for autistic people.

JobAut brings innovation to Vocational Education and Training (VET) and promotes a more skills-based approach to support autistic people’s employment journey: one where autistic people are recognised not only for their potential, but for the value they bring to the workplace and society.

“The unique methodology creates a safe and empowering space where people are seen for who they are, and supported in becoming who they want to be.”

Our methodology

At the heart of JobAut is the belief that each person is resourceful, capable, and full of potential to shape their future. This belief guides us in developing a people-centered coaching methodology, which combines two innovative tools:

  • The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) will be used as a tool to help job coaches gain a better understanding of each person’s profile. This skills-based approach enables more accurate matching with professional roles, and will ultimately improve job placement and meaningful employment.

  • The FROG Methodology, originally developed by lyk-z & døtre,  is an award-winning programme focused on Leadership and Life Mastery. This methodology will be adapted to empower job coaches working with autistic people. It is based on communication techniques that can help them discover their talents, build their self-confidence and define a life project aligned with their values, goals, and ambitions.

 

Our goal is to comprehensively address the multiple dimensions of exclusion that autistic people face in the workplace, in order to end the stigma around autism and shift the focus from disability to ability.

Built on the principles of co-active coaching, JobAut places autistic people at the centre of its work. Through a co-creation process, including focus groups and direct engagement, the project integrates their perspectives and agency. This approach ensures that the outcomes accurately reflect their needs and lived experiences.