Achieving competitive employment for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review of barriers and facilitators.

BACKGROUND

Employment holds substantial meaning and provides important benefits for individuals with intellectual disabilities. However, they often encounter greater challenges in securing and maintaining employment compared to their non-disabled peers.

OBJECTIVE

To enhance understanding of the barriers and facilitators influencing the employment and job retention of individuals with intellectual disabilities from the perspectives of stakeholders in Saudi Arabia.

METHOD: Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, and ERIC-EBSCO Mandumah databases were systematically searched to identify peer-reviewed studies on the employment of individuals with intellectual disabilities published between 2011 and 2025.

RESULTS

The findings highlight employer-related barriers, including discrimination and misconceptions, as well as challenges associated with education and vocational training and the skill development of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The results also identified key facilitators, including collaborative partnerships, accessibility services, and supportive workplace relationships. The study underscores the need to redesign secondary school curricula to strengthen vocational training and transition services, thereby enhancing the professional skills required in the labor market. It also emphasizes the importance of promoting a culture of inclusion and diversity in the workplace through targeted employer training and the implementation of accountability mechanisms within employing institutions.