Criminal offenders earn a fifth less following return to the workforce

The number of former probationers (+14%) and former prisoners (+19%) who were engaged in paid employment increased at a comparable rate with all employees (+14%) between 2019 and 2023.

People who have been jailed or engaged with probation services as a criminal sanction earn approximately one-fifth less than other people when they enter the workforce.

And female former offenders earn less than male former offenders, new Central Statistics Office (CSO) data shows.