Why hiring ex-offenders could help plug labour shortages

Helping an ex-offender into employment can have a significant and lasting impact on both the level of crime and society as a whole. And now a new study indicates that many employers are open to hiring ex-offenders in 2023 in a bid to fill vacancies.

One in three (30%) UK businesses in the private sector say they do not currently employ any ex-offenders, despite the majority (62%) struggling to fill positions – according to a new study commissioned by Sodexo, which runs six UK prisons on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and Scottish Prison Service. What’s more, the research shows 43% businesses are finding it difficult to fill in excess of 10 current vacancies.

However, the research – commissioned with over 1,000 owners and senior leaders with hiring responsibilities across British businesses – finds nearly two thirds (61%) will be hiring ex-offenders in 2023, compared to just 21% that will not.

Aston spoke to Tony Simpson, justice operations director at Sodexo UK & Ireland.

Photo by Glenn Carstens Peter on Unsplash