Introduction: The recently introduced sustainable career ecosystem theory (SCET) integrates sustainable career theory and career ecosystem theory, highlighting the interplay of person, context, and time in shaping sustainable careers. At the same time, the growing number of neurodivergent individuals in the workforce has been acknowledged, yet little is known about their career sustainability.


Purpose: This study addresses the need, raised in a current special issue on SCET, to systematically explore neurodiversity in the context of career sustainability. To date, no comprehensive mapping of existing evidence exists. Our systematic literature review aims to synthesize empirical research and theoretical propositions, thereby providing a foundation for a future research agenda. The study has been pre-registered and approved by the authors' institutional ethics board.


Method: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in SCOPUS. We combined terms for neurodivergent diagnoses with variables drawn from the SCET framework (e.g., career counseling, career crafting, career success). To capture contemporary conceptualizations of neurodivergence, we included articles published between 2020 and 2025. Reporting bias and certainty assessment were unremarkable.


Results: Preliminary findings indicate that some SCET elements, such as individual-level outcomes, have been linked to neurodivergence in scattered studies or highlighted in recent scoping reviews. However, more detailed analyses are lacking. For instance, the role of career crafting in shaping perceived career sustainability among neurodivergent individuals remains underexplored. Moreover, the predominance of US-based research limits the transferability of findings and underscores the need for cross-cultural investigations.


Conclusion: In conclusion, integrating neurodivergence into the SCET framework offers significant potential to advance the field. Given SCET's emphasis on context, future research should particularly account for cultural and national backgrounds when examining sustainable careers of neurodivergent individuals.