Labor Shortage Helps Former Prisoners Get Jobs
2022-07-16
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1The United States' ongoing labor shortage is bad for employers.
2But it also presents a chance for workers who often had a hard time finding jobs in better economic times: former prisoners.
3Special training programs in Mississippi and other states are now trying to fill some of the 11.3 million open jobs in the U.S. by hiring former inmates.
4Antonio McGowan was a prisoner at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.
5After serving 17 years, he was free for the first time since he was 15.
6But as an adult finally out of prison, he could only find low-paying jobs.
7McGowan needed stable work, but all he could find were temporary jobs.
8He cut grass one week and painted a house the next.
9He could not find full-time employment and he found it hard to get a stable paycheck. Many of his bills started going unpaid.
10"Things weren't in place," McGowan said.
11"They weren't where I wanted them to be as far as being an individual back in society."
12After several years, McGowan entered the Hinds County Reentry Program, a job-training program in Mississippi for former inmates created in October.
13The practice of employing people with a criminal record is known as "second-chance hiring."
14In better economic times, many former prisoners faced serious difficulties in finding work.
15But the labor shortage created by the COVID-19 pandemic now presents them with opportunities, said Eric Beamon.
16He works for MagCor, a company that provides job training to people in Mississippi prisons.
17Some studies have shown that stable jobs are a major factor in reducing recidivism.
18Recidivism is when someone returns to prison after being released.
19Still, not everyone is willing to hire a former prisoner.
20Stephanie Ferguson is an employment policy expert at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
21She wrote in a May report that a lack of job opportunities for those with criminal records is hurting workforce participation in the economy.
22The National Conference of State Legislatures found that barriers to work that felons face were connected to a loss of at least 1.7 million employees from the economy.
23It also cost the economy at least $78 billion in 2014.
24That is the year McGowan left prison.
25But the work shortage could create a change.
26And programs like Hinds County Reentry and MagCor can help by training former prisoners to reenter society.
27The programs also connect them with jobs that match their skills and interests.
28McGowan said he would like to work in air conditioning and heating repair.
29The program's workers recommended him to Upchurch Services,
30a Mississippi-based company that permits workers to take classes in repair services while getting experience in the job.
31McGowan was hired the second week of May.
32He makes $15 an hour and works 40 hours each week.
33He has full health care coverage.
34And, he said, he loves the work.
35In addition to skills training, the workforce reentry programs can provide former inmates with mentors who can help them with life after prison.
36A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help to a less experienced person.
37Savannah Hayden was released from prison in November.
38Her mentor is Cynetra Freeman. Freeman is the founder of the Mississippi Center for Reentry.
39The organization offers work-training programs to inmates preparing to leave prison.
40Freeman remembers going to an employment agency the day after she was released from prison.
41She said the agency told her she would never get a job because of her criminal record.
42Hayden thought she might work temporary jobs and try to make enough money.
43But Freeman told her to use her experience as a former inmate to help others reentering society.
44Hayden now works for Freeman as the mental health and drug addiction coordinator at the Center for Reentry.
45"After so many doors are slammed in your face, you get tired of asking," Hayden said.
46"But there will be a person who says 'yes,' and that will change your life."
47I'm Dan Novak.
1The United States' ongoing labor shortage is bad for employers. But it also presents a chance for workers who often had a hard time finding jobs in better economic times: former prisoners. 2Special training programs in Mississippi and other states are now trying to fill some of the 11.3 million open jobs in the U.S. by hiring former inmates. 3Antonio McGowan was a prisoner at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. After serving 17 years, he was free for the first time since he was 15. But as an adult finally out of prison, he could only find low-paying jobs. 4McGowan needed stable work, but all he could find were temporary jobs. He cut grass one week and painted a house the next. He could not find full-time employment and he found it hard to get a stable paycheck. Many of his bills started going unpaid. 5"Things weren't in place," McGowan said. "They weren't where I wanted them to be as far as being an individual back in society." 6After several years, McGowan entered the Hinds County Reentry Program, a job-training program in Mississippi for former inmates created in October. The practice of employing people with a criminal record is known as "second-chance hiring." 7In better economic times, many former prisoners faced serious difficulties in finding work. But the labor shortage created by the COVID-19 pandemic now presents them with opportunities, said Eric Beamon. He works for MagCor, a company that provides job training to people in Mississippi prisons. 8Some studies have shown that stable jobs are a major factor in reducing recidivism. Recidivism is when someone returns to prison after being released. 9Still, not everyone is willing to hire a former prisoner. Stephanie Ferguson is an employment policy expert at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She wrote in a May report that a lack of job opportunities for those with criminal records is hurting workforce participation in the economy. 10The National Conference of State Legislatures found that barriers to work that felons face were connected to a loss of at least 1.7 million employees from the economy. It also cost the economy at least $78 billion in 2014. That is the year McGowan left prison. 11But the work shortage could create a change. And programs like Hinds County Reentry and MagCor can help by training former prisoners to reenter society. The programs also connect them with jobs that match their skills and interests. 12McGowan said he would like to work in air conditioning and heating repair. The program's workers recommended him to Upchurch Services, a Mississippi-based company that permits workers to take classes in repair services while getting experience in the job. McGowan was hired the second week of May. 13He makes $15 an hour and works 40 hours each week. He has full health care coverage. And, he said, he loves the work. 14In addition to skills training, the workforce reentry programs can provide former inmates with mentors who can help them with life after prison. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help to a less experienced person. 15Savannah Hayden was released from prison in November. Her mentor is Cynetra Freeman. Freeman is the founder of the Mississippi Center for Reentry. The organization offers work-training programs to inmates preparing to leave prison. 16Freeman remembers going to an employment agency the day after she was released from prison. She said the agency told her she would never get a job because of her criminal record. 17Hayden thought she might work temporary jobs and try to make enough money. But Freeman told her to use her experience as a former inmate to help others reentering society. Hayden now works for Freeman as the mental health and drug addiction coordinator at the Center for Reentry. 18"After so many doors are slammed in your face, you get tired of asking," Hayden said. "But there will be a person who says 'yes,' and that will change your life." 19I'm Dan Novak. 20Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 21___________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23inmate - n. a person who is kept in a prison or mental hospital 24stable - adj. in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change 25hire - v. to give work or a job to in exchange for wages or a salary 26opportunity - n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done 27participation - n. to be involved with others in doing something 28felony - n. a serious crime 29coordinator - n. a person who organizes people or groups so that they work together properly and well 30slam - v. to close in a forceful way that makes a loud noise 31_____________________________________________________________________ 32We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. 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