Maintaining work over time, and not only gaining brief or unstable jobs, is included in the UN Convention on Rights for People with Disabilities and mentioned in the UN Sustainability Development Goals. Still, employment rates among people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are low. We have reviewed previous international research on employment sustainability for people with ID and thereafter conducted a qualitative interview study with Swedish employees with ID and their employers.

The systematic review showed that very little research is available about employment sustainability for people with ID, especially regarding societal factors. Ten studies were identified as published internationally between 2010 and 2020, and among them only two reported societal factors – (1) having been in an inclusive school environment or living in an area with a larger population size and (2) living without basic living security assistance or in a household with greater income level. The findings also highlight a lack of a consensus definition of sustainability and an inconsistency in measurements.

The interview study focused on identifying what facilitates employment sustainability for people with ID, according to themselves and their employers. Fifteen persons with ID who were long-term employed, and ten representatives from their employers, were interviewed. Five facilitators were identified: (1) having tried various types of work, (2) liking to be at work, (3) balance concerning expectations and adaptations, (4) mutual engagement and flexibility, and (5) wage subsidies. In addition, remaining at a workplace may be the result of lacking alternatives.

Employment sustainability needs to be understood at individual as well as environmental and societal levels. In addition, both duration and progress should be considered regarding employment sustainability in this population. We strongly suggest further research in this field, not least qualitative studies in which people with ID are given voice themselves.