Introduction. Taking up a job is one of the determinants of adulthood. The employment of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) is becoming more and more accepted, especially among their families and people in their immediate environment; There is also a growing understanding of the positive impact of professional activity on their independence, selfdetermination, self-development and social inclusion. Aim. To find out the opinions of parents of adult children with ID on the importance of professional work in the lives of their daughters and sons. Methods and materials. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data and was conducted with 18 parents of unemployed adults with ID (10 mothers, 8 fathers) and 14 parents of working people with ID (10 mothers, 4 fathers). Results and conclusion. In their statements, the respondents indicated: the reasons for their adult children with ID being unemployed, the limitations and opportunities for them to take up work, the benefits of taking up and continuing work, the difficulties they encounter at work and the opportunities for them to become independent. According to parents, work is an important aspect of the lives of their adult children with ID, and most would like them to enter and/or maintain employment. Although the respondents saw many benefits resulting from their sons and daughters fulfilling professional duties, only a few admitted that employment was another stage in the process of their child achieving greater autonomy. Some parents downplayed the importance of the work of their adult children with ID, relating their opinion to the social context.