Second Chance Hiring

The Manufacturing Institute’s work to grow the modern manufacturing workforce features new efforts to promote and educate companies about Second Chance Hiring.

Learn more about second chance hiring strategies

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One-in-four Americans currently possess a criminal record. Without second chance opportunities, many in this sizable talent pool are excluded from the workforce, needlessly leaving them on the sidelines as employers search for candidates who can fill skills gaps.

Partnering with Stand Together, and with a grant from the Stand Together Trust, the Manufacturing Institute is enabling industry to grow the modern manufacturing workforce while closing the opportunity gap. Through webinars, case studies, research and more, the Manufacturing Institute is helping manufacturers navigate second chance hiring.

Manufacturers are well-positioned to lead in welcoming people into their workforce who are ready and willing to develop their skills and seize the second chance for a promising career.

Increasing Opportunities for Workers

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Manufacturers Continue to Lead the Way on Second Chance Hiring Webinar

April 30, 2024 Tuesday 1:30 – 2:30 PM | Eastern

Virtual Event

Join us to learn more about how you can incorporate second chance hiring initiatives at your company and in your community.

The Case for Second Chance Hiring

This guide is designed to give industry the tools needed to explore and implement Second Chance hiring practices. This resource offers perspectives and rationale on why implementing Second Chance hiring may be a good fit for your company, including the business case, the value to employees and customers, and your community impact.

Resource Guide

Building Community Partnerships

Second Chance Hiring Resource Guide This guide is designed to give manufacturers the tools needed to explore and implement Second…

Best Practices in Inclusive Talent Recruitment and Retention

Second Chance Hiring Resource Guide This guide is designed to give industry the tools needed to explore and implement Second…

Retention and Advancement

Second Chance Hiring Resource Guide This guide is designed to give manufacturers the tools needed to explore and implement Second…

Toolkit for Local Communities

This toolkit is designed as a guide for local organizations and coalitions that would like to implement second chance hiring initiatives in their communities. The toolkit outlines the five major steps of building and launching a second chance hiring initiative: Plan, Partner, Equip, Implement, Sustain and provides resources for state and local manufacturing associations, chambers and other locally based organizations. The toolkit also spotlights key resources and employer programs that illustrate best practices and includes a resource library to help audiences get started. We hope this offers a practical road map to use, adapt and contextualize as regional leaders establish their second chance initiatives.

ACCESS THE TOOLKIT

Community Partnership Scorecard

The community partnership scorecard is designed to help employers identify high-quality partners to refer and support candidates with past convictions. While every company will have different needs and priorities, this tool provides baseline criteria to explore with prospective referral partners as companies make Second Chance hiring a more significant part of their talent strategy.

Download the PDF

Webinars

Webinar: Second Chance Hiring for Manufacturers

Overview On June 10, The Manufacturing Institute held a webinar on second chance hiring for manufacturers. The webinar featured experts who discussed the business case and best practices for second chance hiring, as well as focused on key steps leading…

Webinar: Second Chance Hiring In Your Community

Overview On September 8th, The Manufacturing Institute held a webinar on second chance hiring for manufacturers. The webinar featured experts who discussed best practices for second chance hiring, as well as focused on the roles that community-based organizations play in…

Webinar: Steps to Starting a Second Chance Hiring Program ft. Union Pacific

Overview On August 30th, The Manufacturing Institute held a webinar on the building blocks of a successful second chance hiring initiative featuring Union Pacific. The webinar featured representatives from Union Pacific who discussed how their company identified and prepared community…

Webinar: Second Chance Hiring for Local Communities

Overview On April 26th, the Manufacturing Institute hosted a webinar on Second Chance Hiring for Local Communities. The discussion featured best practices from employers, community partners and content experts on how to successfully launch a place-based second chance hiring pilot…

D&I Deep Dive: Starting a Second Chance Hiring Program

Overview On November 16th, the Manufacturing Institute hosted a webinar on Second Chance Hiring for Local Communities. The discussion featured best practices from employers, community partners and content experts on how to successfully launch a place-based second chance hiring pilot…

Deep Dive: How Workforce Boards Can Help Communities Start a Second Chance Hiring Program

Overview On January 30th, the Manufacturing Institute hosted a webinar on Second Chance Hiring for Local Communities. The discussion featured best practices from employers, community partners and content experts on how to successfully launch a place-based second chance hiring pilot…

Case Studies

Case Study: Second Chance Hiring – Talan Products

Overview Talan Products, Inc. is committed to creating opportunities for returning citizens to gain access to well-paying manufacturing jobs complete with benefits and the potential for career advancement. To that end, President and co-owner Pete Accorti has been highly engaged…

Case Study: Creating a Holistic, Multiemployer Second Chance Hiring Initiative

Overview In San Antonio, employers have worked with the MI and Stand Together Trust to build a program that not only gives individuals with a prior conviction an opportunity for employment, but also provides them with tools that will help…

Case Study: The Building Blocks of a Successful Second Chance Hiring Initiative

Overview In early 2021, The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, began collaborating with Union Pacific to build a Second Chance hiring initiative to expand candidate pools to be more inclusive of…