Scotland: Employment and Education

Scotland's population size is 5,295,403

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  1. Learning disabilities
  2. Autism

People with learning disabilities and people with autism want to make a positive contribution to society. Inclusion, equality and the opportunity for people to improve themselves through continuous learning and employment opportunities are just as important and just as relevant to people with learning disabilities and people with autism, as they are to the rest of the population. Involvement in these opportunities can also have a positive impact on health and wellbeing.

The importance of equality of opportunity in both education and employment for all people is underlined in UK and Scottish policy and legislation.

Employment: people aged 16 and over

  All People People known to have autism
Total % Total %
Part-time paid work 709,732 16.2% 1,376 9.6%
Full-time paid work 1,818,088 41.5% 1,600 11.1%
Unemployed 222,316 5.1% 1,505 10.5%
Retired 975,121 22.3% 664 4.6%
Student 219,215 5.0% 3,734 26.0%
Looking after home or family 142,682 3.3% 175 1.2%
Long-term sick or disabled 209,935 4.8% 4,450 31.0%
Other 81,983 1.9% 860 6.0%
Total 4,379,072 100.0% 14,364 100.0%

Employment

People aged 16 or over known to have autism

4,450

long-term sick or disabled


2,976

in paid employment


3,734

students


1,505

unemployed


664

retired


175

looking after home or family


860

other


Employment

People aged 16 or over known to have autism

4,450

long-term sick or disabled


2,976

in paid employment


3,734

students


1,505

unemployed


664

retired


175

looking after home or family


860

other


Hours worked per week

People aged 16-74 known to have autism

11,074

0 hours


531

15 hours or less


841

16 to 30 hours


1,384

31 to 48 hours


206

49 hours or more


Occupation type

People aged 16-74 known to have autism

93

managerial


589

professional and technical


252

administrative and secretarial


390

skilled trade


694

service occupations


944

elementary occupations


Industry type

People aged 16-74 known to have autism

107

agriculture, energy & water


157

manufacturing


197

construction


991

distribution, hotels & restaurants


244

transport & communications


371

financial & real estate


699

public, education & health


196

other


Employment history

People aged 16 or over known to have autism

8,215

never employed


3,173

formerly employed


2,976

employed


Employment history

People aged 16 or over known to have autism

8,215

never employed


3,173

formerly employed


2,976

employed


Qualifications: people aged 16 and over

  All People People known to have autism
Total % Total %
No qualifications 1,173,116 26.8% 6,021 41.9%
Level 1 1,010,875 23.1% 4,265 29.7%
Level 2 627,423 14.3% 1,724 12.0%
Level 3 424,996 9.7% 968 6.7%
Level 4 and above 1,142,662 26.1% 1,386 9.7%
Total 4,379,072 100.0% 14,364 100.0%

Level 4: e.g. degree or above

Level 3: e.g. SVQ level 4

Level 2: e.g. Scottish Higher grades

Level 1: e.g. Scottish Standard grades

Qualifications

Qualifications held by all adults aged 16 and over known to have autism

6,021

no qualifications


4,265

level 1


1,724

level 2


968

level 3


1,386

level 4 and above


Education: people aged 4 and over

Student accommodation

Students aged 4 or over known to have autism

396

living in a communal establishment


133

living in all student household


18,566

living with parents


477

other household type


196

part-time students


144

living alone


Summary information

20.7% of adults known to have autism have paid employment, compared with 57.7% of all adults


  • 11.1% of adults known to have autism work full-time, compared with 41.51% of all adults


  • 9.6% of adults known to have autism work part-time, compared with 16.2% of all adults


  • 10.5% of adults known to have autism are unemployed, compared with 5% of all adults


  • 31% of adults known to have autism are long-term sick or disabled, compared with 4.8% of all adults


  • 41.9% of adults known to have autism have no qualifications, compared with 26.8% of all adults



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