1 In 4 Need Not Apply

Sixty-five million Americans—or one in four adults—have a criminal record. But employers—including major companies like Bank of America, Omni Hotel, and Domino's Pizza—routinely post job ads on Craigslist that explicitly exclude such applicants, according to a new report conducted by the National Employment Law Center (NELP), a labor-affiliated advocacy group.

The practice appears in some cases to be against the law, and at a time of record long-term joblessness, advocates for the poor say it places yet another obstacle in front of people like Magee, who are working to get their life back on track. In addition, there's widespread agreement that helping those with criminal records to find stable employment is crucial for preventing recidivism and preventing future crime. Indeed, that's the reason that the government runs programs designed to make it easier for ex-offenders to find work.


Perhaps most important, effectively making more than one quarter of the American workforce unemployable may be an unsustainable policy for the economy as whole.

What I want to know, and I'm sure Zandar can chime in here and explain, is how these people may also be throwing off our estimates on unemployment rates.  It's also time for states to unite and declare some universal employer practices to bring this issue and others to a place where we can start working towards a resolution.  It's mind-boggling to me that one in four Americans could be removed from consideration for a job before their qualifications and experience comes into play.

What are your thoughts?