The Need: Equitable work opportunities

Millions of capable employees have a hard time accessing work, even during low unemployment.

• More than 78 million Americans have criminal records and more than half reported problems acquiring and maintaining employment or making enough to live on. (Source: CBS News)

• More than 25% of the active workforce have at least one prior conviction. (Source: RAND)

• About two-thirds of formerly incarcerated people are unemployed at any time after release. (Source: Prison Policy Initiative)

• Almost 40% of businesses are willing to hire those with criminal justice involvement. That number increases to 68% for those employers struggling to fill positions. (Source: Forbes)

• About 70% of those with a substance use disorder (SUD) are employed, and about 9% of workers have been or are still in recovery. (Source: CDC)

• Workers in recovery average almost 10% fewer days of unscheduled leave than other workers and had a turnover rate 12% less than the overall average. (Source: Department of Labor)

• Employees who recover from an SUD save employers an average of more than $8,500 each. (Source: NORC)

• There is no return-to-work support for the thousands of state employees who go to substance abuse treatment.