The University of Sheffield has secured part of a £1.8 million NIHR funding round to investigate the employment challenges facing neurodivergent people in South Yorkshire. The project forms part of the NIHR’s Work and Health Research Initiative, which focuses on reducing health-related economic inactivity across the UK.
The research will analyse government policy, review existing support, and assess workplace practices that affect access to jobs and long-term retention. The team will work directly with neurodivergent people and employers to understand how conditions such as autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities influence workplace experiences.
Professor Megan Freeth said: “Changing employment systems and employer behaviour is key. I’m excited to work alongside neurodivergent people to find solutions to employment barriers that create better work opportunities.”
The study aligns with national efforts to strengthen workforce participation amid rising long-term illness. Government figures show an additional 800,000 people out of work due to health conditions compared with 2019. Long-term sickness now accounts for nearly a third of total economic inactivity, costing the UK an estimated £85 billion each year.
Professor Danny McAuley said: “Investing in research that supports employees to stay healthy, happy and remain in work is crucial for the future of our economy. It has the potential to deliver substantial economic and social benefits for individuals, employers and wider society. The NIHR’s Work and Health Research Initiative builds on existing investment in research in this area, helping to support the UK’s economic growth and boost health and wellbeing across the UK.”
