Employers’ perspectives on the reintegration of ex-prisoners into the workforce

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the reintegration of ex-prisoners into the workforce across the Maltese Islands, by examining the various perspectives of employers. The study focused on gathering data concerning the reasons behind employers’ willingness or otherwise of hiring ex-prisoners. The data was collected using a quantitative research approach by means of a questionnaire that was specifically created for the purpose of this study. The sample consisted of 120 participants (74 males, 45 females and one other), all of whom came from various kind of businesses in the local context. Results showed that employers in the sample who were generally older in age, were more open towards employing ex-prisoners in their businesses and were less interested in finding out the reason behind ex-prisoners’ incarceration. The results in this study revealed further that very few participants had employed ex-prisoners, indicating that more efforts need to be made to help reduce recidivism rates. This can be done by helping ex-prisoners find a job. Key recommendations made for upcoming studies include a similar study that employs a qualitative approach, and a study that investigates ex-prisoners’ perspectives towards the same subject. The study ends with an end note from the present researcher about the researched topic.