For years, economists and industry experts have warned that an aging workforce, increasing retirements, and a thin pipeline of new entrants threaten to upend what the construction sector relies on most: human capital. Take into account the increasingly unpredictable availability of foreign-born workers, and the outlook grows murkier still. None of this is news to those in the trades — structural labor shortages and skills gaps grow more apparent by the day.
In a recent survey by the Associated General Contractors of America and the National Center for Construction Education and Research, over 80 percent of firms with hourly craft or salaried openings reported difficulty filling roles. According to Associated Builders and Contractors, the construction industry must attract 456,000 new workers to meet projected demand in 2027, and according to Deloitte, 41 percent of construction workers are expected to retire by 2031.
Meanwhile, investments in data centers, transportation-related infrastructure, and other construction continue to grow. As demand surges, companies must prioritize building and sustaining new pipelines of talent.
While many employers are investing in long-term solutions through apprenticeships, training programs, and partnerships with educational institutions, some are also finding immediate solutions in a valuable, waiting talent pool: the 1 in 3 Americans with a criminal record.
The reality is that millions of these Americans are arbitrarily excluded from the workforce solely because of an old criminal record — often for minor or nonviolent offenses that have no relevance to the role they’re pursuing or to public safety. Unfair hiring practices don’t just harm job seekers; they’re a detriment to the businesses that choose stigma over opportunity.
| Your local Topcon Positioning Systems Inc dealer |
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| Linder Industrial Machinery |
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
Companies that are serious about meeting demand, remaining competitive, and building the next generation of talent can’t afford to overlook job seekers with a record.
Justice-impacted individuals are a hardworking, loyal, and proven talent pool that deserves a fair chance to contribute — and the data backs it up. According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, over 80 percent of business leaders and human resources professionals believe that employees with records perform as well as or better than their peers, bringing a strong work ethic and loyalty to the workplace. Employers in the study also reported high dependability and retention, saving on costly turnover.
“In a tight labor market, hiring from all backgrounds — including those with an old record — is key to our business’ growth,” said Anderson C. Hill, II, Founder and President of HZ Construction. “We focus on skills, reliability, and potential when evaluating candidates, and our justice-impacted workers are just as capable and driven as their peers.”
Getting ready-to-work talent off the sidelines generates significant economic benefits.
| Your local Wirtgen America dealer |
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| Dobbs Equipment (DXC) |
| Dobbs Equipment (DXC) |
| Dobbs Equipment (DXC) |
| Dobbs Equipment (DXC) |
According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the U.S. economy loses as much as $87 billion in gross domestic product annually due to the underemployment of individuals with records. Furthermore, underemployment related to imprisonment or conviction reduces people’s wages by as much as $372.3 billion annually, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Opening fair pathways to employment is critical to expanding the tax base and fueling economic growth.
Fair chance hiring also helps create safer communities to live, work, and do business. Studies show that individuals who were employed and earning higher wages after release were less likely to return to prison the first year out. Stable employment is key to reducing recidivism and breaking costly cycles of incarceration, saving valuable public resources.
Employing and upskilling people with records is simply smart business. As the construction sector races to address structural labor shortages and keep pace with AI-driven infrastructure demand, the time to proactively shore up new pipelines of talent is now.
Businesses that overlook the 77 million Americans with a record aren’t just risking their ability to compete; they’re leaving growth on the table.
| Your local Komatsu America Corp dealer |
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| Linder Industrial Machinery |
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
| Linder Industrial Machinery |
Maggie O’Donnell is Chief Programs Officer at the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ).
