Just 8% of Irish employers feel very confident hiring and supporting neurodivergent people and people with disabilities as confidence gap emerges as a key barrier to workplace inclusion.
A lack of confidence and practical knowledge is preventing many Irish employers from hiring more neurodivergent people and people with disabilities, according to new research commissioned by social enterprise NOW Group.
The findings shed light on the challenges facing Irish businesses as the country continues to experience one of the widest disability employment gaps in the European Union. While employers increasingly recognise the benefits of more inclusive workplaces, many remain uncertain about how to translate goodwill into action.
“The biggest message from this research is that employers don’t necessarily lack the willingness to become more inclusive – many lack the confidence and practical knowledge to know where to begin”
The research found that just 8% of employers describe themselves as very confident when it comes to hiring and supporting neurodivergent people and people with disabilities.
More than half of those surveyed (54%) said they feel only “a little” equipped or “not at all” equipped to recruit and support neurodivergent employees and employees with disabilities. The findings suggest that concerns about making mistakes, coupled with a lack of practical guidance, are creating barriers to inclusive recruitment practices.
A quarter of employers (25%) said they are concerned about being insensitive during recruitment or in the workplace, while 26% admitted they are unsure how to reach neurodivergent candidates and candidates with disabilities.
The survey also found that 18% would not know how to accommodate neurodivergent people and people with disabilities in the workplace, while 15% said they are unsure how to support candidates during the recruitment process.
Need for more support and education
NOW Group, which supports people with learning difficulties, autism and other forms of neurodivergence into sustainable employment, said the results highlight a need for greater employer support and education.
The research points to strong demand among employers for practical assistance. One in four respondents (25%) said workplace inclusivity training would be the most valuable support in helping them recruit more inclusively, while 24% said they would benefit from guidance on how to attract neurodivergent talent and people with disabilities.
Maeve Monaghan, CEO of NOW Group, said the findings show that willingness is often not the issue.
“The biggest message from this research is that employers don’t necessarily lack the willingness to become more inclusive – many lack the confidence and practical knowledge to know where to begin. Our message to Irish employers is simple: you don’t need to have all the answers before you start. The expertise and support is available, and organisations like NOW Group can be your partner throughout that journey.
“We work on both sides of that equation – supporting neurodivergent people and people with disabilities to prepare for and progress into sustainable employment, while working directly with employers to give them the confidence, knowledge and practical support to recruit inclusively.”
The findings arrive at a time when many organisations continue to face recruitment pressures. More than a third (38%) of employers surveyed reported difficulties recruiting staff over the past 12 months.
NOW Group believes inclusive hiring presents an opportunity for employers to widen their talent pools while addressing ongoing workforce challenges. The organisation argues that meaningful progress will require more than awareness campaigns, with employers seeking practical guidance on recruitment, onboarding and workplace support.
The organisation plans to support 300 people with disabilities into paid employment over the next three years through employer-focused training programmes and partnerships with companies committed to inclusive recruitment.
Demand for its services continues to grow. Earlier this year, NOW Group hosted its largest Dublin graduation ceremony to date, celebrating more than 120 graduates from its employment and skills programmes for people with learning difficulties and neurodivergent individuals. The figure represents a significant increase on the 22 graduates recorded in 2025.
NOW Group works with a number of major employers across Ireland, including An Post, Deloitte Ireland, Levy Ireland, Flutter and Circle K, helping organisations build more inclusive workplaces and create pathways into sustainable employment for neurodivergent people and people with disabilities.
Image at top: NOW Group chief executive Maeve Monaghan pictured with graduates at the social enterprise’s recent Dublin City Hall graduation ceremony, where more than 120 people graduated from its employment and skills programmes
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