UK labour shortage: jobs for ex-offenders are no quick fix

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In an attempt to plug the UK’s chronic, 1mn-plus labour shortage, employers are tapping 16-18 year olds, over-50s and recent retirees. The UK government has another idea. It has embarked on a fresh drive to persuade more companies to hire ex-offenders.

More than 12mn people in the UK have a criminal record, according to the charity Unlock. Supporting ex-offenders in employment cuts reoffending rates.

Previous campaigns to integrate more former prisoners into the workplaces are bearing fruit. The proportion of ex-offenders in work six months after their release increased to more than 30 per cent at the end of March from just over 14 per cent in April 2021. Organisations working in the field are encouraged, even though statistics during the pandemic were artificially low.

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A survey from the charity Working Chance last year found that 45 per cent of employers would theoretically take on someone with a conviction. In 2010 this figure was 25 per cent.

Shoe repair and key cutting chain Timpson has a long history of employing former prisoners. They account for more than 10 per cent of its workforce — some 650 people. A number of small businesses such as Redemption Roasters in London, which owns a chain of 10 coffee shops, were born out of efforts by the UK Ministry of Justice to encourage entrepreneurs to train inmates. 

But there are difficulties for both ex-prisoners and employers. Former prisoners are praised for displaying high work rates and levels of loyalty. But they can also be among the most vulnerable people in society. Employers with experience of working with ex-convicts estimate that only about a third of prisoners would be in a position to take up employment successfully on release. Others need support with issues such as addiction and mental health before they can work.

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Charities say overcrowding and understaffing in the prison service mean people close to release have often not received support and training needed to prepare for work. Lack of stable accommodation after release can act as another inhibitor.

Companies that successfully recruit from prison populations often have separate programmes tailored to ex-offenders’ needs. These frequently start with training academies within prison walls. But such schemes are resource-intensive. Companies will need to balance the cost of such partnerships against potential losses from understaffing.

The Lex team is interested in hearing more from readers. Please tell us what you think of employment-based rehabilitation of former offenders in the comments section below.