Honest Jobs

High-Level Overview

Honest Jobs is the nation's largest fair-chance employment platform, connecting formerly incarcerated individuals—referred to as returning citizens—with employers offering second-chance jobs.[1][2][3] Founded in 2018, it serves job seekers with criminal records by providing free access to job postings, hiring resources, and support services, while helping employers lower hiring costs and risks by tapping into 30% of the U.S. workforce often overlooked due to background checks.[1][2] The platform addresses recidivism and unemployment by enabling quick job placements, with tools like guidebooks for reentry and partnerships that have driven national growth, including investments from Stand Together Ventures Lab in 2022.[2]

Origin Story

Honest Jobs was founded in 2018 by CEO Harley Blakeman, a two-time felon who graduated from The Ohio State University but struggled firsthand to secure employment due to his criminal record.[1] Motivated by his personal challenges and the rising number of Americans with criminal histories—now nearly equal to those with college degrees—Blakeman authored *GRIT: How to Get a Job and Build a Career with a Criminal Record* and launched the platform to connect employers with viable candidates needing a fair shot.[1] Early traction came from Blakeman's speaking engagements at TEDx, Society for Human Resource Management, and brands like Scott’s Miracle-Gro, building momentum toward his mission of assisting 1,000 employers in intentional fair-chance hiring.[1] Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio (with some references to Denver), the company has evolved into a national platform, securing investments and partnerships like those from ETF@JFFLabs.[2][4]

Core Differentiators

• Free Access for All Users: Unlike traditional job boards, Honest Jobs is free for both job seekers with records and employers, removing barriers and enabling broad adoption while reducing hiring risks and costs.[2][5]
• Tailored Tools and Resources: Offers job postings, reentry guidebooks, and support services specifically for returning citizens, plus employer-focused hiring guides to identify and retain talent from this overlooked talent pool.[1][2][3]
• Proven Mission-Driven Leadership: Led by founder Harley Blakeman's lived experience as a felon, combined with his expertise via book authorship and high-profile talks, ensuring authentic fair-chance focus.[1]
• Tech-Enabled Scale: Uses a modern tech stack (e.g., Sentry, HubSpot, Google tools) to power the largest national platform, partnering with impact investors for growth and reporting $8.4 million in revenue with under 25 employees.[2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Honest Jobs rides the second-chance hiring trend, fueled by market forces like labor shortages, rising incarceration rates (affecting 30% of the workforce), and corporate shifts toward DEI and fair-chance policies post-2020 social justice movements.[1][2] Its timing aligns with tech's expansion into social impact HR tools, partnering with nonprofits like JFF and investors like Stand Together Ventures Lab to influence ecosystem-wide change by normalizing background-agnostic hiring.[2][4] By lowering recidivism through employment—proven to stabilize reentry—the platform shapes the gig and service economy, where employers gain from untapped talent amid talent wars.[1][3]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Honest Jobs is poised for expansion as fair-chance hiring gains regulatory tailwinds (e.g., "ban the box" laws) and AI-driven screening tools evolve to prioritize skills over records. Expect deeper integrations with enterprise HR systems, more partnerships, and scaling toward Blakeman's 1,000-employer goal, potentially boosting revenue beyond $8.4 million via premium employer features.[1][2] Trends like remote work and economic pressures will amplify demand for its low-risk talent pool, solidifying its role as a cornerstone fair-chance innovator—proving that lived experience, paired with tech, unlocks workforce potential for millions.[1][3]