The Society For Human Resource Management reports that only 53% of HR professionals are willing bring on workers with a criminal record. “When people with criminal records are excluded from the workforce, a large, willing, trainable talent source goes to waste,” says SHRM president and CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. “By encouraging employers to recruit, hire and give workers with a criminal background a chance, we can help close the skills gap and break the cycle of recidivism.”
For those with criminal records who have been hired, 83% had a drug-related felony or racked up a misdemeanor, such as shoplifting. For violent felonies, 25% of HR professionals had hired these individuals, while 10% hired those who served time for sexual assault.