Pennsylvania Employment & Job Training
Pennsylvania Employment & Job Training – Second-Chance Friendly Employers
This page highlights employers and workforce programs in Pennsylvania that are known to consider applicants with a criminal record, or that run reentry-focused job training. Policies can change by location, manager, and offense type—always read the job posting carefully and follow any work-restriction conditions on your probation or parole order.
Philadelphia & Southeast Pennsylvania – Second-Chance Employment
✅ Second-Chance Friendly Workforce & Employer Partners
Public workforce system for Philadelphia with job search help, training referrals, and hiring events. Many partner employers consider candidates with records.
Job readiness, training (including trades), and placement support for adults with barriers to employment, including justice involvement.
Offers hospitality, building trades, and customer-service training plus GED and job placement assistance. Welcomes many returning citizens.
Retail and warehouse positions plus training programs for individuals with employment barriers, including criminal records.
🛠️ Mixed / Confirm First Employers & Temp Agencies
Many fulfillment centers and warehouses hire through staffing firms and may consider some records for non-driving roles.
Some kitchens, hotels, and venues use fair-chance hiring, especially for dishwashing, prep, and cleaning jobs.
Pittsburgh & Southwest Pennsylvania – Employment & Training
✅ Second-Chance Friendly Workforce & Reentry Partners
Workforce board and career centers offering job search, training funds, and hiring events, including services for returning citizens.
Retail and warehouse employment plus job training and reentry-specific support.
Faith-based shelter and employment program supporting men experiencing homelessness, addiction, and justice involvement.
🛠️ Mixed / Confirm First Employers & Industries
Many small and mid-sized contractors hire laborers and apprentices; background rules vary by project and client.
Some plants hire entry-level machine operators or assemblers with certain records.
Central Pennsylvania / Harrisburg Region
✅ Second-Chance Friendly Workforce Partners
Career centers in Harrisburg, York, Lancaster and nearby counties with job search, training funds, and employer recruitment events.
Retail, warehouse, and donation-center roles plus job training and employment services for people with barriers.
🛠️ Mixed / Confirm First Entry-Level Employers
Distribution centers around Carlisle, Harrisburg, and York often use staffing firms and may hire people with some records.
Northeast Pennsylvania & Lehigh Valley
✅ Second-Chance Friendly Workforce & Training
Career centers for Allentown–Bethlehem–Easton region with training and hiring events.
Centers in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and surroundings offering job search help and employer connections.
🛠️ Mixed / Confirm First Employers & Industries
Resorts and hotels may hire for housekeeping, grounds, and maintenance positions; background checks vary by employer.
Pennsylvania Statewide & Online – Second-Chance Opportunities
✅ Second-Chance Friendly Statewide & Remote Programs
Statewide portal listing jobs, virtual workshops, and training opportunities across Pennsylvania.
Union and non-union apprenticeships in construction and other trades. Some accept candidates with certain records.
🛠️ Mixed / Confirm First Large National Employers
Some national companies limit early background questions and consider applicants case-by-case after conditional offers.
Important: A “✅ Second-chance friendly” label means the employer or program is known to have worked with justice-involved job seekers, not that they will automatically hire any person with any record. Final decisions depend on your charges, time since offense, type of job, and internal company policy.
Probation / Parole Restrictions: Always check your judgment and sentence, probation order, and any written conditions before accepting a job. Some people are restricted from certain industries (for example: handling cash, security, working in bars, going into schools, or entering private homes). When in doubt, speak with your officer and get clarification in writing.
Updates & Corrections: To suggest a Pennsylvania employer or training program, or to correct a listing, email contact@oacra.app with as much detail as possible (city, website, whether they actively hire second-chance applicants, etc.).
