Feb 05 2018 More individuals are being hired with Criminal Records. This is Why…
From the 1980s onward, background checks had been a new trend conducted by employers. The goal had been to improve the quality of their new hires and minimize negligent hiring risks. Job seekers were required to self-identify their criminal history on the applications. Their past as an inmate became a barrier to employment. The current employment prospects for criminals is exponentially more optimistic due to the economy and an initiative to expand employee candidate pools. This is great news for criminals, but also employers.
Economic Recovery Results in Rising Demand for Inmate Workers
As of January 2018, the economy is enjoying an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Low employments creates a job seeker’s market. To meet the demand for products and services, employers changed their hiring practices.
One major change was to expand the candidate pool. Employers, either directly or via a staffing firm, have been actively seeking out former inmates. This newly recognized talent pool is becoming one of the primary solutions to meeting staffing needs. In fact, many inmates are offered a work release option to begin employment training. This often leads to criminals workings while incarcerated.
Due to the economic recovery, employers have begun to remove criminal history from the the initial application process. A joint government and business pledge to remove the stigma of a criminal record from the application has paved the way to more employment opportunities.
Inmate Employment Initiative Increases Job Growth for Criminals
The initiative known as, “ban the box,” focuses on the disclosure of criminal history on an application. Known as the Fair Chance Business Pledge, this initiative gives Americans a second chance in the job market. It is based on the premise that released inmates have paid their debt to society. This private sector pledge eliminates inquiries into an applicant’s criminal background during the early stages of the application process.
The economic recovery and pressure on the private sector to put less weight on criminal records has removed several barriers to employment. The employment outlook for criminals should continue to improve as employers become more flexible to meet their hiring needs.