Re-employment barriers: An empirical study on employment opportunities for Chinese ex-offenders

Influenced by a range of structural and institutional factors, individuals in China who have completed their prison sentences often encounter greater challenges in securing employment compared to their counterparts in other countries. Based on in-depth interviews with 358 respondents in City S, our research reveals that criminal records have a persistent and long-term negative impact on the employment prospects of ex-offenders in China. We argue that although the existing legal framework imposes numerous employment restrictions on individuals with criminal records, these formal limitations are not the primary cause of their employment difficulties. Rather, entrenched employment discrimination—transmitted from the state to the market—constitutes the most significant barrier to their reintegration into the labor force. Moreover, the experience of criminal punishment diminishes individuals’ employment capabilities, while the enduring nature of the criminal record undermines the potential benefits of personal attributes such as skills, health, and social networks. This latter dynamic represents a secondary barrier to successful reemployment.