Employer Perspectives on Hiring Youth Previously Involved with Juvenile Justice: A National Survey

Abstract Employment is a defining aspect of adult life as well as a protective factor for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, but employment rates for juvenile-justice-involved youth are substantially lower than for their noninvolved peers. Interventions have been developed to increase employment for juvenile-justice-involved youth, yet few studies have examined employer perspectives about hiring them. The purpose of this replication study was to document employer perceptions of hiring youth in the juvenile justice system; whether youth should disclose prior involvement in the system; and the skills and qualifications that employers value in their workers. Findings indicate that, relative to the results of prior studies, employers’ perceptions appear to have improved such that they are more likely to hire youth who have been involved with the juvenile justice system. This research provides insights into how educators, behavior analysts, and other rehabilitation and support personnel can help these youth obtain employment, and suggests future research directions to further reduce hiring stigma.