A company choosing to hire from a group often thought of as unemployable would be good news at any time. It is particularly welcome when much of the rich world is still in or near recession, and whole generations are wasting away to unemployment.

SAP, the German software maker, wants to hire hundreds of workers with autism or related conditions for jobs in coding and product testing. Many higher-functioning autists have above- average logical abilities and attention to detail, but struggle with normal social interaction. This means they can be exceptional at certain jobs but not good at being hired for them through processes such as interviews.

As Specialisterne, the Danish organisation that specialises in recruiting and employing autists, points out, actively recruiting people with the condition makes business sense for the same reason as removing career roadblocks for women or ethnic minorities. Aside from any reputational benefits, it focuses employers on talent pools that they might otherwise neglect, through prejudice or ignorance.