Felony Friendly Jobs in New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is a city built on tourism and hospitality, industries that constantly need workers. The port, oil and gas, and healthcare sectors round out the economy. Louisiana passed a statewide ban-the-box law for public employers in 2016, and New Orleans has additional local protections. Popeyes, founded in New Orleans, is among many food service employers in the city. The cost of living is lower than most major metros.
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Top Employers in New Orleans That Hire People With Records
These companies have locations in or near New Orleans, LA 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.
Marriott is the largest hotel chain with fair chance hiring pledges. Considers applicants individually.
Hilton runs background checks but uses individualized assessment. Back-of-house roles more accessible.
Dollar General conducts background checks but is known to hire people with non-violent felony records.
Popeyes is franchise-dependent. Many franchise owners hire people with records for crew positions.
Best Industries in New Orleans for People With Records
- ✓Tourism & hospitality
- ✓Port operations & logistics
- ✓Healthcare
- ✓Oil & gas
- ✓Food service
Staffing Agencies in New Orleans That Work With People With Records
Temp and staffing agencies are often the fastest way to get working. These agencies serve the New Orleans metro area and are known to place people with criminal records.
- Express Employment Professionals
- Manpower
- Kelly Services
- Labor Finders
- Adecco
Louisiana Employment Laws for People With Records
Ban the Box Status
Louisiana passed a statewide ban-the-box law (2016) for public employers. New Orleans has a local fair chance hiring ordinance for city contractors and some private employers.
Fair Chance Hiring Law
Louisiana's ban-the-box law applies to public employers. New Orleans has a local ordinance extending fair chance protections to city contractors and certain private employers. Federal EEOC guidelines apply.
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr (federal minimum — Louisiana has no state minimum above federal)
Tips for Job Searching With a Record in New Orleans
- 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 New Orleans
- Louisiana Workforce Commission
- Total Community Action
- Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana
- First 72+
- Youth Empowerment Project
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best felony friendly jobs in New Orleans?
- New Orleans offers strong opportunities in hospitality and tourism (hotels, restaurants, event venues — the city's tourism economy is massive), food service (restaurants are everywhere), logistics (Port of New Orleans), construction, and healthcare. The French Quarter and downtown area alone support thousands of hospitality jobs.
- Does New Orleans have ban-the-box laws?
- Louisiana has a statewide ban-the-box law for public employers (2016). New Orleans has an additional local ordinance extending fair chance protections to city contractors and certain private employers. These protections delay criminal history inquiries.
- What staffing agencies in New Orleans hire felons?
- Staffing agencies in New Orleans that work with people with records include Express Employment Professionals, Manpower, Kelly Services, Labor Finders, and Adecco. The hospitality, construction, and port-related sectors create ongoing demand for workers.
- Is New Orleans affordable for people starting over?
- New Orleans has a relatively low cost of living compared to other major cities. Housing costs are moderate, though they vary significantly by neighborhood. The minimum wage is only $7.25/hr (federal minimum), but tipped positions in the restaurant industry can significantly increase earnings.
Related Resources
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