Barriers to Employment for Ex-offenders

Finding work can be a challenge if you have a criminal background. It helps to know which barriers might be in the way and how to handle employer attitudes.

A felony conviction can be considered a barrier to employment. A barrier is anything that makes it more difficult to achieve what you want. In this case, that would be getting a job.

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 you will be unable to find a job. It does mean 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 reluctant to hire someone who was charged or convicted of a misdemeanor offense where the maximum sentence was a fine.

In these cases, a job seeker might have to work a little harder to win over the employer, but it's not impossible. An employment counselor can help you figure out how to show employers the benefits of hiring an ex-offender. Benefits may include:

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

Not all employers think negatively of ex-offender job candidates. They know that they can benefit from hiring people who are hardworking, honest, and loyal.

Legal Restrictions

State and federal regulations may prevent a person with a felony conviction from working in some occupations. Most of these occupations involve interacting with small children, being responsible for large sums of money, or requiring the employee to carry a weapon.

Examples of these occupations include:

• airport security screener
• child care provider
• armored car crew member

Other occupations require a state licensed to work in the profession. Examples of licensed occupations include dental assistants, teachers, doctors, and engineers. Minnesota state statutes can restrict a person with a felony conviction from working in an occupation based on the requirements for the profession.

Before you start training or look for a job that requires a license, check on the licensing policies for that occupation. Some employers, like those who hire nursing assistants and truck drivers, are more willing than others to help a person to obtain that occupation's license.