Felony Friendly Jobs in Kansas City, MO
Kansas City sits at the crossroads of the Midwest, making it a natural logistics and distribution hub. The metro area spans two states (Missouri and Kansas), which creates some complexity in employment laws. Amazon, UPS, and FedEx all have significant operations in the area. Manufacturing, agriculture, and food processing are also major industries. Missouri's minimum wage of $12.30/hr applies on the Missouri side. The Full Employment Council and Reentry KC are strong local reentry organizations.
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Top Employers in Kansas City That Hire People With Records
These companies have locations in or near Kansas City, MO and are known to consider applicants with criminal records.
Amazon hires people with felony records for most warehouse and delivery roles. Background checks are individualized.
Walmart considers applicants with records on a case-by-case basis. Violent and theft-related felonies may disqualify.
UPS hires felons for package handler roles. Driver and management positions have stricter background requirements.
FedEx Ground contractors frequently hire people with records. FedEx Express has stricter requirements.
Target uses individualized assessment for applicants with records. Ban the Box compliant nationwide.
Kroger hires people with records for many store and warehouse positions. Pharmacy roles are more restricted.
Cargill is a large food/agriculture company that hires some people with records for plant and production roles.
Goodwill is one of the most felon-friendly employers. Their mission includes helping people with barriers to employment.
Best Industries in Kansas City for People With Records
- ✓Logistics & distribution
- ✓Manufacturing
- ✓Healthcare
- ✓Agriculture & food processing
- ✓Automotive
Staffing Agencies in Kansas City That Work With People With Records
Temp and staffing agencies are often the fastest way to get working. These agencies serve the Kansas City metro area and are known to place people with criminal records.
- Express Employment Professionals
- Manpower
- Kelly Services
- Adecco
- Labor Finders
Missouri Employment Laws for People With Records
Ban the Box Status
Missouri does not have a statewide ban-the-box law for private employers. Kansas City, MO passed a ban-the-box ordinance for city employment. Note: the metro spans both Missouri and Kansas.
Fair Chance Hiring Law
Missouri lacks statewide fair chance legislation for private employers. Kansas City (MO) has a ban-the-box for city jobs. The Kansas side of the metro follows Kansas state law (no ban-the-box for private employers). Federal EEOC guidelines apply.
Minimum Wage
$12.30/hr (Missouri state minimum — Kansas side is $7.25/hr federal minimum)
Tips for Job Searching With a Record in Kansas City
- 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.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.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.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.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.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 Kansas City
- Full Employment Council
- Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas
- Reentry KC
- Missouri Career Centers
- Don Bosco Centers
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best felony friendly jobs in Kansas City?
- Kansas City has strong opportunities in logistics and distribution (it's a major crossroads for shipping), manufacturing, food processing, construction, and automotive. Amazon, UPS, and FedEx all have major facilities in the metro. The agriculture and food processing industries (Cargill) also provide opportunities.
- Does Kansas City have ban-the-box laws?
- Kansas City, MO has a ban-the-box ordinance for city government employment. Missouri does not have a statewide ban-the-box for private employers. The Kansas side of the metro (Kansas City, KS and suburbs) follows Kansas state law, which also does not have a private employer ban-the-box. Federal EEOC guidelines apply across the metro.
- What is the minimum wage in Kansas City?
- On the Missouri side, the minimum wage is $12.30/hr (Missouri state minimum). On the Kansas side, the minimum wage is $7.25/hr (federal minimum). This significant difference can affect where you choose to work across the metro area.
- What staffing agencies in Kansas City hire felons?
- Staffing agencies in the Kansas City metro that work with people with records include Express Employment Professionals, Manpower, Kelly Services, Adecco, and Labor Finders. The logistics and manufacturing sectors create steady demand for temporary and temp-to-hire workers.
Related Resources
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