50% increase in number of ex-offenders finding work quickly

The MoJ has released statistics which show that the number of former offenders finding work within six weeks of release has increased by almost 50% between last July and March of this year.

Since April 2021, the percentage of those leaving prison who find employment within six weeks has been gradually increasing. In July 2021, it stood at 10.4 per cent, compared with 15.5 per cent in March of this year. 

Meanwhile, cumulative figures show that between July 2021 and March 2022, 3,863 prisoners were in employment six weeks after their release from prison. In the same period a year earlier (July 2020 – March 2021) the figure was only 2,991. 

The statistics have been linked to the new initiatives the MoJ have set up following a commitment by the government to increase employment rates among ex-offenders. In December’s Prisons White Paper, it committed a £200 million annual investment on reducing reoffending by 2023. 

One such initiative has been the creation of Employment Advisory Boards which are chaired by business owners and act as a link between jails and employers. 

The idea behind the scheme was that the boards could advise prisons on the skills and job opportunities that prisoners could be working towards while they are serving their sentence. 

50 boards have been established since June 2021, with the plan being that all 91 resettlement prisons will have a board by spring of next year. 

Current employers involved within the scheme include Greggs, TalkTalk and Lotus Cars. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab said: “We’re getting more offenders into work than ever before which is key to cutting crime and making our streets safer.

“Along with our work to tackle addiction, improve education and maintain vital family ties, this will set ex-offenders on a sustainable path away from crime – helping to protect the public.”

In addition to the advisory boards, 46 employment hubs (similar to Job Centres and can advise prisoners on CVs and future careers) have been set up in prisons. 

An MoJ poll has shown that over 90 per cent of businesses who employ ex-offenders said they are reliable, good at their job, punctual and trustworthy. 

Meanwhile ex-prisoners in employment are nine percentage points less likely to commit further crime.