A number of large Dutch companies, including Philips, ASML and DAF, have set up a joint project to train young people with autism to become IT engineers, according to broadcaster Nos.

The project stems from a general shortage of skilled IT staff and people with hacking skills. They are not found in job centres but behind their computers at home, the broadcaster says.

Swanet Woldhuis, of the Dutch autism association, said the rise in demand for people with autism comes as employers discover ‘they make excellent employees’.

Some 20,000 youngsters with autism are currently unemployed and thousands more drop out of education, Nos says.