Second Chances Build a Stronger Workforce

The second-chance workforce refers to individuals who have a criminal record or who have been incarcerated and are seeking to reintegrate into the workforce. According to the Manufacturing Institute, one in four Americans currently have a criminal record. Without second-chance opportunities, many in this talent pool are excluded from the workforce, leaving them on the sidelines as employers search for candidates who can fill skills gaps.

Second chance hiring in action

At the National Glass Association’s Building Envelope Contractors (BEC) Conference in Las Vegas in March, NGA Vice President of Workforce Development Jenni Chase sat down with Marcus Singleton and Courtney Little of ACE Glass to discuss how they’ve incorporated second-chance hiring at their company. 

ACE Glass has employed previously incarcerated individuals for about 20 years and provided insights on the benefits and challenges. Little says  that secular organizations and halfway houses in local areas are great resources for making connections within your community. A session attendee added that job fairs can be another resource.

Little and Singleton say that when it comes to challenges with second-chance hires, they are not much different than with any other employee. “It’s the simple stuff with almost any new employee. You want to make sure they’re trustworthy, they fit your company culture and they fit in with the rest of the team,” says Singleton.

When second-chance employees begin work at ACE Glass, Little and Singleton say they start working in the fabrication shop with a mentor to help them learn their way around and then can move up from there over time. Two of their second-chance hires have now been with the company for 20 years and currently hold management positions. One of ACE Glass’ most recent second-chance hires is the second female glazier in the company’s 40-year history. This employee has taken many classes on NGA’s MyGlassClass.com to further her knowledge of the trade and hone her skills.

Little and Singleton add that it’s great to know they are giving back to their community in a positive way while helping people get back on their feet. “We’re all looking for people and there’s a whole population of folks who would love to get back to work,” says Little.

“Recidivism is much lower when they have a productive job and can be self-sustaining. They do better when they have a program or person backing them up.”

The ACE Glass officials add that second-chance hiring has benefitted the company because one of their core values is community, and this is one major way to give back to their local community and contribute positively to the company’s reputation. 

More information on the second-chance workforce

According to polling done by the Prison Policy Initiative, 80% of Americans support expanding second-chance hiring practices and 85% of human resource professionals believe that workers with criminal records perform their jobs as well or better than their peers.

The Manufacturing Institute also highlights some benefits of second-chance hiring. By considering second-chance hiring as a key part of a talent strategy, companies can widen their talent pools and decrease turnover. Research has indicated that employees with past convictions stay longer and advance faster than their peers. Despite some assumptions otherwise, studies also show that this group is terminated for cause at a rate no higher than their peers without criminal histories, according to the Manufacturing Institute.

Second-chance hiring can also help companies stay competitive as economic trends point to decreasing labor market participation, higher turnover and a looming talent shortage, as well as access incentives such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Federal Bonding Program, which are resources available to help encourage second-chance hiring. 

Second-chance Hiring on Window Cast

For more information, watch this episode of Window Cast, the official podcast of Window + Door and the NGA, that features a clip from the second-chance hiring session at BEC Conference 2025.