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Barriers to Employment for Ex-offenders

Finding work can be a challenge for some job seekers with criminal backgrounds. It helps to know which barriers might be in the way and how to handle employer attitudes.

Ex-offenders looking for work often have a harder time than other job seekers. A felony conviction can be considered a barrier to employment. A barrier is something that makes it more difficult for a person to job search or successfully complete the hiring process.

Barriers to employment include:

  • Criminal record
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Employer biases
  • Job seeker's attitude
  • Mental health issues
  • No work history or gaps in employment
  • Not enough education or training
  • Poor health or physical disabilities
  • Unreliable transportation to get to work
  • Unsafe housing or living situations

Having one or more barriers to employment does not mean that you will not be able to job search or get hired. It means that you need to be aware of potential barriers so that you can resolve or reduce them.

Employer attitudes

Unfortunately, there are some employers who think negatively of any job seeker with a conviction on their record. Some employers are even hesitant to hire someone who have been charged or convicted of a misdemeanor offense where the maximum sentence might be to pay a fine.

In these cases, a job seeker might have to work a little harder to win over the employer, but getting hired is not impossible. With the help of an employment counselor, a job seeker can show employers the benefits of hiring an ex-offender, including:

  • Being eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which encourages employers to hire qualified ex-offenders
  • Participating in the Federal Bonding Program that limit an employer's risk, liability and insurance costs
  • Eligibility for low-cost training programs

Not all employers think negatively of ex-offender job candidates. Many businesses are experiencing the benefits of hiring people who are hardworking, honest and loyal.

Legal restrictions

While employer attitudes can factor into any job search, state and federal regulations can stop a person with a felony conviction from getting hired in certain occupations. Most of these occupations involve either interacting with small children, being responsible for large sums or money or require the employee to carry a weapon.

Examples of these occupations include:

  • airport security screener
  • childcare provider
  • armored car crew member

Other occupations require a person to be licensed by the state in order to practice in that profession. Examples of licensed occupations include dental assistants, teachers, doctors and engineers. Depending on the requirements for that profession, Minnesota statutes can restrict a person with a felony conviction from obtaining employment in that occupation.

Before you start training or looking for a job in a career that requires a license, find out about the state licensing board's policies for that occupation. Employers of some occupations, like those who hire nursing assistants and truck drivers, are more willing than others to help candidates to obtain that occupation's license.