Abstracts Category : Other

Employment Barriers and Attitude to Employment for MaleEx-Offenders

by Ashley Oliver

Working is a central aspect of life, as employment isa means of survival and it allows for both social interaction andself-determination. One group in particular has historicallystruggled to obtain employment, namely ex-offenders. Despite thelarge number of unemployed ex-offenders, counseling psychology hasnot paid much attention to the specific vocational needs for thisparticular population. This study describes the difficulties thatmale ex-offenders have when trying to obtain employment.Specifically, the relationship between perceived barriers toemployment and job search attitudes are examined in an adult malenon-violent and violent offender population. The participantsincluded 150 English-speaking adult males with a criminal record,aged 18 and older, and who were currently unemployed. Resultssupported that there is a relationship between their perceivedbarriers to employment and job search attitude. Results alsosupported a relationship between type of offense committed (violentvs. non-violent), total number of criminal convictions, and highestlevel of education completed and their Barriers to EmploymentSuccess overall score and Job Search Attitude overall score, withthe most significant relationship being between highest level ofeducation and ones overall barriers to employment. Results suggestthat vocational programs should take more of a holistic approach,and incorporate interventions that are targeted at improvingoffenders attitudes, such as motivational interviewing, because itmay help decrease their employment concerns and perceivedemployment barriers, and improve their attitudes.Advisors/Committee Members: Stead, Graham (Committee Chair).