According to CIOB’s latest research report, there is a negative stigma and fear surrounding the hiring of people with criminal records due to concerns over employee safety
According to the survey, just 25 percent of construction managers would consider hiring a person with an unspent criminal conviction, 32 percent said they would not, and 43 percent stated they were unsure.
Niamh Evans, policy and public affairs officer north at CIOB, said: “Construction companies across the UK are facing a labour shortage, and there is an untapped market of potential candidates waiting to be unearthed.”
Breaking down barriers would lower unemployment among people with criminal convictions
Statistics show nearly 75 percent of people leaving prison are still without work six months after their release.
Meanwhile, the Government estimates the current cost of re-offending is approximately £18bn per year.
More than 12 million people in the UK currently have a criminal record with hundreds of thousands of convictions remaining unspent – so candidates must declare their convictions when applying for a job.
Survey respondents said that they would not hire someone with an unspent conviction due to lack of trust
CIOB’s report highlights how some construction companies have already enjoyed success by hiring people with criminal convictions and specifically showcases how one large construction company and one SME are being proactive in this area.
Benoit Firmin, social value manager at Wates Group Limited, said: “We have been successful in attracting, recruiting and retaining employees with criminal records, providing them with an opportunity to turn their lives around.
“They have added value to the business and positively contributed to our work by way of using their skills and expertise to support us both in delivering projects and in achieving social value objectives.”
The construction industry needs another 225,000 workers by 2027
It is estimated 225,000 additional construction workers will be needed to meet demand by 2027, according to data from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
Demand for construction work is likely to increase in the years ahead with significant plans for the regeneration of the built environment in the UK, particularly with the Government’s flagship levelling up agenda and political focus on delivering a faster rate of housebuilding.
CIOB obtained its data through a survey of more than 130 construction companies across the UK.
