Ex-offenders could help cut UK labour shortages, says report

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Unemployed ex-offenders are being overlooked for jobs and could help fill the 1.1 million vacancies in the UK job market, a report has claimed.

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03 Jul 2023

Britain is “facing one of the worst labour shortages in its history”, the year-long study said, arguing that the vast numbers of people commonly overlooked for jobs should be targeted.

The Good Jobs Project, led by the business charity ReGenerate, said homeless people, young people in or leaving care, refugees, those with mental health problems and over-50s are also not being given employment opportunities.

The project, launching on Monday, is supported by established businesses including the bakery chain Greggs and the key-cutting firm Timpson.

James Timpson, the chief executive of Timpson, said: “It is too easy for talented people to be held at arm’s length because they may have a criminal record, are neurodivergent or have a physical disability.

Related: UK is worst performer in G7 for workforce participation since Covid

“I have seen first-hand how looking past such issues, and hiring on talent