Heston Blumenthal: Neurodivergents are underemployed.

According to research commissioned by Heston Blinthal OBE, more than one-fifth of people with neurodivergent disorders are unemployed.

According to a study conducted on behalf of a chef and restaurateur who is bipolar and has ADHD, more than 1 in 10 (11%) UK residents have been classified as neurodivergent.

While more than half of neurodiverse people (56%) have a full-time job and 23% have a part-time job, 21% have no paid work at all.

In a survey of over 1,000 people, neurodivergents who work part-time were asked if it was because their diagnosis made it hard to find full-time jobs. Around a quarter of respondents (24%) answered yes. However, 67% disagreed and 9% did not want to answer.

Men reported working part-time due to their disability, which prevented them from finding full-time work. The figure fell to 19% for neurodivergent females.

Three in 10 respondents (31%) received a diagnosis of neurodivergent between the ages 20 and 40. A smaller percentage of respondents were diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 50 or older, with 8% and 7 % respectively.

More than one-tenth (13%) of respondents believe that they are neurodivergent, but haven’t been diagnosed. Nearly three quarters of these respondents (74%) work as employees. 9% are independent contractors and 18% do not have a job.

Blumenthal stated: “It’s extremely disappointing that there are so many neurodivergent people in the UK struggling to find a paid job. These individuals are likely to possess specialist skills which will improve a workforce’s productivity and enhance the quality of work. UK businesses are missing out if they don’t do more to help people with neurodiverse disorders contribute.

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