Autism therapy workforce grows to 654,000, surpassing postal service
6 reported
A single-source report from marginalrevolution.com cites data from Derek Thompson showing the number of people working in autism therapy increased from about 150,000 in 2019 to 654,000 six years later. That figure now exceeds employment in mining and logging, telecommunications, and the US Postal Service. The article also references a New York Times story about Compleat Kidz, a chain of autism clinics based in North Carolina, which enforces a policy that naps cannot exceed seven minutes before children are awakened to resume therapy. The company states this policy is necessary to prevent fraud, as clinics can only be paid when children are awake and receiving services. The policy also allows the clinic to bill insurers or Medicaid for more hours.
What’s reported
In 2019, about 150,000 people worked in autism therapy.
Six years later (by 2026), that number was 654,000.
The 654,000 figure exceeds employment in mining and logging, telecommunications, and the US Postal Service.
Compleat Kidz, a fast-growing chain of autism clinics in North Carolina, has a policy limiting naps to seven minutes.
The company says the nap limit is necessary to prevent fraud, as clinics can be paid only when children are awake and getting services.
The policy also allows the clinic to bill insurers or Medicaid for more hours.
Key figures
Derek Thompson (cited as source of employment data)
Compleat Kidz (chain of autism clinics based in North Carolina)
Sources: marginalrevolution.com
