Felony Friendly Jobs in Houston, TX

Best Industries in Houston for People With Records

• ✓Energy & oil/gas
• ✓Logistics & shipping
• ✓Healthcare
• ✓Construction
• ✓Manufacturing

Staffing Agencies in Houston That Work With People With Records

Temp and staffing agencies are often the fastest way to get working. These agencies serve the Houston metro area and are known to place people with criminal records.

• Express Employment Professionals
• Kelly Services
• Manpower
• Labor Finders
• Adecco

Texas Employment Laws for People With Records

Tips for Job Searching With a Record in Houston

1. 1.Start with staffing agencies. Temp agencies are often the fastest way to get working. They have relationships with employers who are willing to hire people with records, and a temp-to-hire position can become a permanent job.
2. 2.Apply to multiple places at once. Do not wait for one application to come back before applying to the next. Apply to 5-10 places in the same week. The more applications you send, the better your chances.
3. 3.Be honest about your record. If asked, be upfront. Lying about your criminal history is grounds for immediate termination if discovered later. Briefly acknowledge what happened, explain what you have learned, and focus on what you bring to the job.
4. 4.Focus on industries with high demand. Warehouse, logistics, construction, and food service jobs tend to be the most accessible for people with records because these industries have chronic worker shortages.
5. 5.Use local reentry programs. Organizations like Goodwill, workforce development centers, and reentry coalitions can connect you with employers who actively hire people with records. They often know about job openings before they are publicly posted.
6. 6.Know your rights. Under the EEOC guidelines, employers must use individualized assessment — they cannot have a blanket ban on hiring people with records. Under the FCRA, you have the right to see and dispute your background check. If you are in a ban-the-box state or city, employers cannot ask about your record until later in the hiring process.

Reentry Employment Programs in Houston

• Texas Workforce Solutions — Gulf Coast
• Goodwill Houston
• The SEARCH Homeless Services
• Houstone Reentry Program
• Workforce Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best felony friendly jobs in Houston?

Houston's strongest industries for people with records are energy and oil/gas services, warehouse and logistics (especially around the Port of Houston), construction, and food service. Companies like Amazon, H-E-B, Waste Management, and Sysco are major employers in the area that are known to hire people with records. Staffing agencies like Express Employment and Labor Finders also place many people with backgrounds in Houston.

Does Houston have ban-the-box laws?

Houston does not have a local ban-the-box ordinance, and Texas has no statewide ban-the-box law for private employers. This means private employers in Houston can ask about criminal history on job applications. However, federal EEOC guidelines still require employers to use individualized assessment rather than blanket bans on hiring people with records.

What staffing agencies in Houston hire felons?

Several staffing agencies in Houston are known to work with people who have criminal records, including Express Employment Professionals, Kelly Services, Manpower, Labor Finders, and Adecco. These agencies place workers in warehouse, manufacturing, construction, and general labor positions. Labor Finders offers same-day pay options.

What is the minimum wage in Houston, Texas?

The minimum wage in Houston is $7.25 per hour (the federal minimum wage). Texas does not have a state minimum wage above the federal level. However, most warehouse, construction, and industrial jobs in Houston pay well above minimum wage, typically starting at $12-$18 per hour.