Overview

Abstract (English)

Why adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have a lower labor supply than the other disability groups and what might help to increase it. I describe statistical determinants of the Labor Force Participation (LFP) and weekly hours of work of adults with ASD. I then investigate what might explain their lower labor supply compared with individuals with the other developmental, cognitive and physical disabilities. The estimated Average Marginal Effect of completing high school on the probability of LFP and weekly hours of work is the highest for those with ASD compared with those with other disabilities. The estimated effects are higher for the younger adults than for older ones. These findings suggest that improving education attainments for younger individuals with ASD could be more effective in increasing their labor supply. Findings from decomposing the lower LFP and weekly hours of work of adults with ASD compared with the other disabilities show that their observable individual characteristics do not explain a considerableproportion of their lower labor supply. This finding suggests that individuals with ASD might be subject to stigma and discrimination relatively more often than the others with disabilities. My findings have important implications for policy interventions to increase the labor supply of adults with ASD.

Abstract (French)

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