Good jobs are the foundation of a healthy economy, one that lifts up workers and families and supports local communities. To access good jobs—those that are in demand and pay a living wage—a postsecondary education is critical. More than 1,000 people are released from state and federal prison every day, and many already have a high school education. Colleges and corrections agencies can build postsecondary programs to meet the skills gap and help people returning home from prison access stable employment. In this study, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) takes the approach of starting at the end goal—a good job—and working backward to determine which good jobs are legally accessible to people with conviction histories to inform which college programs or credentials to offer. This national report aims to help incarcerated students, corrections officials, colleges teaching in prison, and other reentry employment and education partners identify which economic sectors to target for skill development based on demand, accessibility, and earning potential.  

By examining labor market trends and legal barriers in each state, this report identifies the types of good jobs that are accessible to people with conviction histories and serves as a guide for developing and expanding prison education programs to increase education and employment opportunities.