EMPLOYABILITY OF AUTISTIC ADULTS IN BRAZIL: EVIDENCE FROM THE 2022 CENSUS AND STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES

Abstract

This article analyzes the employability of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Brazil, based on microdata from the 2022 Demographic Census and contextual indicators from the Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI). The study adopts an explanatory quantitative approach, employing multivariate statistical models (logistic regression, probit, and Cox survival analysis) adjusted for sociodemographic, educational, functional, and territorial variables. Results reveal that employment rates among autistic adults range from 10% to 22%, significantly below the national average for the general adult population. Low educational attainment, the presence of co-occurring intellectual disability, racialized identity, and residence in municipalities with low MHDI are statistically associated with lower labor market insertion. The study demonstrates that education does not automatically translate into employability for this population, due to institutional barriers, social stigma, and the absence of targeted public policies. Findings challenge the adequacy of human capital theory when applied in isolation and underscore the importance of intersectoral strategies for inclusive employment. The article recommends the implementation of adapted vocational training programs, technical support in the workplace, and reinforced labor mediation mechanisms. It concludes that the exclusion of adults with ASD from the Brazilian labor market is shaped by structural and intersectional factors, and that policy responses must be evidence-based, territorially sensitive, and normatively grounded. This research contributes to a more robust diagnostic framework and offers strategic insights for advancing the right to work for autistic individuals in Brazil.