Genevieve Martin, a senior director in Jobs for the Future’s Center for Justice & Economic Advancement, was recently quoted in a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) article reporting on a new study from the University of South Florida which found that, while job applicants with criminal records are generally less likely to be hired than similarly qualified applicants without records, there are cases where formerly incarcerated individuals who have earned certain credentials will be hired over people without records who don’t have those credentials.

According to SHRM, experts analyzing the study said the findings reinforce the need for government agencies to continue investing in programs that offer education, skills training, and other benefits for people who are or have been incarcerated.

Martin agreed with that assessment. “While companies have expressed increased interest in hiring from a myriad of marginalized communities, putting strategy into practice is the critical work,” she said in the article. “Our communities are filled with talented individuals and available jobs; what’s lacking are the clear and aligned opportunities to connect the two. We have found that employers require support to understand the benefits, practices, and implementation strategies needed to truly embrace and onboard [these workers].”