Fair Chance Licensing Project: States Expand Access to In-Demand Jobs

As states across the nation struggle with labor shortages, The Council of State Governments Justice Center launched the Fair Chance Licensing Project, an unprecedented effort to track new reforms across all 50 states that reduce barriers to employment for people with criminal and juvenile records. The project also provides resources for lawmakers, business leaders, workforce organizations, and community advocates to explore how these reforms, known as “fair chance licensing,” can help address the current worker shortage.

In the new digital resource, you can:

• Watch firsthand accounts from people who have been prevented from getting occupational licenses due to their criminal records;
• Explore how states across the country have adopted and are making progress toward fair chance licensing legislation; and
• View fair chance licensing maps that show the strategies states are adopting to advance fair chance licensing.

Visit the project homepage