Last week, Goodwin University held an Advanced Manufacturing Summit, in partnership with the NAACP Million Jobs Campaign (MJC). The Jobs Campaign serves individuals who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system, which includes people that have been incarcerated, on probation, have an arrest record, or another direct contact with the justice system.
It was an eye-opening event. Did you realize there are 9600 people released from CT prisons every year who have an extremely difficult time finding employment? That’s a huge number of potential employees for the CT manufacturing industry. Did you also know that justice-impacted employees have a higher rate of retention than other groups of employees?
A few years ago, I learned about the impressive Second Chance program at Pursuit Aerospace (formerly Whitcraft Group). They started a partnership with a CT prison in 2018 to fill their workforce needs while also doing something positive for their community. They built a structured work-release model for inmates that enabled many to transition to full-time employment after their release. This initiative focused on training individuals for skilled manufacturing roles, facilitating both pride in their learning and incredible growth potential for true careers, not just jobs. Learn more about their program on the Manufacturing Shake-Up podcast episode with Pursuit EVP, Jacqueline Gallo.
According to the research shared at the Advance Manufacturing Summit, gainful employment like this increases successful re-entry and reduces recidivism by 50%! That’s a massive change in behavior.
The MJC is seeking more manufacturers to get involved – to be willing and able to support the justice-impacted community. It’s a win-win for both communities. Manufacturers get the employees they so desperately need and justice-impacted individuals earn the potential for a great career. Often, these employees can’t be poached by the big guys (EB and Pratt) due to their tight hiring restrictions.
Successful second chance initiatives aren’t a one-off hiring decision. They must be a structured strategy with intention and commitment behind them. Take a look at the Employer Toolkit: Second Chance Hiring by Central Connecticut State University to learn about the steps and pathways to start a Second Chance program.
The Million Jobs Campaign is doing important work, and the Connecticut Manufacturing industry can play a big role. We can’t wait to see how this grows!