Second Chance Hiring.
Every year, 650,000 Americans return from incarceration to find themselves locked out of the labor market. The unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is 27% – higher than it ever has been for the general population – and people with criminal records are 5x more likely to be out of a job. As we look to meet growing workforce demand in the post-pandemic recovery, this represents an opportunity for employers to tap into a group of individuals that can fill their hiring needs.
RBIJ’s Roadmap for Second Chance Hiring
RBIJ set out to find out why employers might be reluctant to embrace the justice-impacted workforce, conducting dozens of conversations with companies across a wide range of sectors, including financial services, insurance, manufacturing, service providers, and restaurants, in addition to academics and nonprofits. This research, funded by Arnold Ventures, also revealed practical steps to drive the adoption of Second Chance Hiring (SCH) practices.
Read our roadmap on how businesses can create a more inclusive economy for the more than 70 million people with criminal records.
Get In Touch
RBIJ is pleased to serve as a resource to companies interested in becoming Second Chance employers or scaling their efforts. Businesses that are looking for support in their journey to becoming second chance employers — especially in Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas — are invited to fill out this form and a member of RBIJ’s Inclusive Hiring team will follow up soon.