04-22-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

Why second chance hiring is smart business

For the 1 in 3 Americans with a justice-involved past, a criminal record shouldn’t limit their future—or what businesses can gain from hiring them.

[Photo: Getty Images]

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of top leaders and experts who pay dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership, and more.

The job market is tough right now. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings have been trending down, and are currently below pre-pandemic levels. In a hypercompetitive economy, people entering the workforce are facing fewer opportunities than just a few years ago. And for the 1 in 3 American adults with a justice-involved past, or any interaction with the criminal justice system as a defendant, their record is another obstacle in an already challenging job search.

April marks Fair Chance Month, an annual opportunity to spotlight reentry programs, resources, and skills-training for formerly incarcerated people. Yet, as the conversation around second chance hiring has expanded each year, a criminal record can still reduce a candidate’s chances of a second interview by 50%. Even when people with justice-involved pasts take advantage of every opportunity, exclusionary hiring practices and systemic barriers make finding and retaining employment an uphill battle. For example, returning citizens frequently have trouble securing safe and reliable housing and transportation, and are therefore 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public.

When we systematically exclude people........

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