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21 Certain Methods for Finding Jobs for Felons in Buffalo in 2023

By Last update September 13, 2022
Buffalo New York cityscape

If you are looking for assistance in locating jobs for felons in Buffalo, New York, then you are in the right place! Our staff have researched and contacted over 1,000 companies in the US to see what their attitudes and policies are towards hiring former offenders. This article was written specifically to help you find work immediately by pitching 10 local companies that have fewer barriers to employment. We’re excited to help you realize your options and get some job security!

Jobs that hire felons in Buffalo

Buffalo New York downtown

Buffalo is the second-largest city in New York, known as the City of Good Neighbors, and is on the eastern end of Lake Erie, across the border from Ontario, Canada. It was the first US city to have streetlights, and both the grain elevator (by Joseph Dart) and the air conditioner (by Willis Carrier) were invented in Buffalo.

Buffalo has a mix of industries including light manufacturing, high technology, healthcare, education, and financial services. There are a lot of different opportunities for people seeking jobs that hire felons in Buffalo. To keep your search manageable, you should use our search tool. You can select different fields (job type, industry, etc.) to limit your list to just the types of jobs you are looking for.

Top companies that hire felons in Buffalo

If you are just getting back into the working world again, then you will have to adjust your job expectations. Justice-involved people have the best luck when they focus on entry-level positions because they have the lowest barriers to entry. Some don’t even require background checks.

A good way to maximize your options for jobs is to utilize an employment agency. They always have a good variety of jobs, and they know how to find jobs for people that have challenges like yours. So, if you want to shorten your job search, then there are many employment agency jobs for felons in Buffalo.

Now we will get into the details for companies that hire felons in Buffalo. You can click on the company name to jump right to their section, or just keep scrolling down to see all of them. 

Delaware North

Moog

National Fuel Gas

Pegula Sports and Entertainment

Tops Friendly Markets

Upstate Niagara Cooperative

Computer Task Group

Kaleida Health

Tim Hortons

M and T Bank

Before you dive into applying for any jobs, you will need to get your resume in order. If you have not updated it in a while, then you may want to get some help. We have a great guide to making a resume for people with a record you should take a look at.

Delaware North

Delaware North is a food service and hospitality company that employs over 55,000 people worldwide and with an annual revenue of over $3 billion. They are headquartered in Buffalo, and operate lodging, sporting, airport, gambling, and entertainment venues.

Some promising jobs:

  • Server
  • Host
  • Busser
  • Construction
  • Warehouse Clerk

Moog

Moog is a manufacturer of electric, electro-hydraulic and hydraulic motion, controls and systems for applications for aerospace, defense, industrial and medical devices. They are headquartered in Elma, NY, operate in 26 countries, and have four major areas (aircraft controls, space and defense controls, industrial controls, and components).

Some good opportunities for former felons:

  • Machine Oiler
  • Associate Product Delivery Technician
  • Finisher
  • Repair Station Technician
  • Lathe Cell Utility Operator

National Fuel Gas

National Fuel Gas Company is a large energy company with five operating units: Exploration/Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering, Utility, and Energy Marketing. They started in 1902 in Williamsville, NY, and employ nearly 2,000 people in Western NY and Northwest PA.

Some solid jobs for former felons:

  • Customer Service Representative
  • Gas System Technician
  • Equipment Operator
  • Dispatcher
  • Pricing Analyst

Pegula Sports and Entertainment

If you are into sports, then check out Pegula Sports & Entertainment. They are a sports and entertainment company based in Buffalo. Established by multi-billionaire Terry Pegula and his family with company assets including the Buffalo Bills (NFL), the Buffalo Sabres (NHL), the Buffalo Bandits and the Rochester Knighthawks (National Lacrosse League), and the Rochester Americans (American Hockey League).

Great jobs for former felons:

  • Retail Associate
  • Team Member
  • Parking
  • Housekeeping
  • Change Over Staff

Tops Friendly Markets

If you are looking to get into retail or a grocery store chain, then take a look at Tops Friendly Markets. They are a supermarket chain based in Amherst, NY, that operates 150 stores and 5 gas station/convenience stores in Upstate New York, Vermont, and Northern Pennsylvania.

Promising jobs for former felons:

  • Cashier
  • Front-End
  • Shopper Assistant
  • Grocery Clerk
  • Marketing Media Specialist

Upstate Niagara Cooperative

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is a dairy cooperative located in Buffalo that provides milk, cream, butter, yogurt, half-and-half, juices, eggnog, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream mix, and chip dips. They are owned by farmers throughout western New York State and have a lot of good jobs available.

Some great opportunities, for former felons:

  • General Labor
  • Machine Operator
  • Production Worker
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Maintenance

Computer Task Group

Computer Task Group, Inc. (known as CTG) is an information technology staffing company that is headquartered in Buffalo. If you are into computers and tech, or are looking to get into IT, then  they are a good place to check out.

Promising jobs for former felons:

  • Technical Support Specialist
  • Quality Control Analyst
  • IS Service Desk Agent
  • Scheduling Analyst
  • Identity Access Analyst

Kaleida Health

Looking for a healthcare related job? Then take a look at Kaleida Health (previously known as the Millard Fillmore Health System). They are a not-for-profit healthcare network with over five hospitals in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metro area. 

Some good job opportunities for former felons:

  • Materials Handler
  • Patient Support Associate
  • Sterile Processing Technician
  • IT Service Desk Analyst
  • Grill Cook

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons Inc., also known as Tim’s or Timmies, is a multinational fast food restaurant chain famous for serving coffee, doughnuts, and other fast food items. They are Canada’s largest quick-service restaurant chain with over 4,900 restaurants in 15 countries (2022).

Great entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Cashier
  • Team Member
  • Store Assistant Supervisor
  • Shift Supervisor

M and T Bank

M&T Bank is a very large commercial bank, founded in 1856, and focused on community banking. They have over 750 branches and 1,800 ATMs throughout New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Promising jobs for former felons:

  • Contact Center Service Representative
  • Mortgage Solutions Center Representative
  • Mail Services Associate
  • Reporting Analyst
  • Application Support Specialist

Trucking jobs for felons in Buffalo

The trucking industry is always bustling. If you’re into driving and trucking looks like an interesting career for you, then you should look into it. Trucking companies are a great place to look for jobs because they have a good history of hiring the justice involved, and they often offer free training and other incentives for new drivers.

For good trucking jobs for felons in Buffalo, here are some companies to look at:

  • FleetPrid
  • Buffalo Transport Co
  • Speed Global Services
  • Global Auto Transportation
  • Escro Transport Ltd

Warehouse jobs for felons in Buffalo

Many people may not think about warehouse jobs for felons in Buffalo as a good option. However, if you are seeking somewhere that is easy to find a job and has minimal requirements, then warehouses are an excellent place to look. Every major population center and most large companies have warehouse functions, and they are usually looking for good workers.

Here are some businesses to look at:

  • XPO Logistics
  • Laub International
  • Sam-Son Logistics Inc.
  • Elmwood Warehousing Co Inc.
  • ECS Warehouse

Temp agency jobs for felons in Buffalo

Earlier in this article, we mentioned that staffing agencies are a very dependable source to go to for jobs. They can find you a job fast and save you some time. Below are some good sources of temp agency jobs for felons in Buffalo.

Here are some of the better agencies in the area:

  • Key Resource Group, LLC
  • StaffBuffalo, LLC
  • SPS Temporaries Inc.
  • Career Start Staffing
  • Buffalo Employment and Training Center (BETC)

Second chance and job training programs for felons in Buffalo

The three largest cities in New York (Buffalo, New York City and Rochester) all have enacted Ban the Box laws that prohibit employers from asking applicants about their past criminal record on an employment application. Employers are only permitted to ask about an applicant’s criminal record further on in the hiring process.

Finding a job is a major challenge for justice involved people, but it is not the only challenge you face. If you find yourself needing help getting other aspects of your life back on track, then you should look into second chance and job training programs for felons in Buffalo and the surrounding area. They offer help with education, addiction, mental health, housing, and many other things. Below are a few local and national second chance organizations.

Resources for former felons in Buffalo:

  • New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
    • Mission: The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, guided by the Departmental Mission, is responsible for the confinement and habilitation of approximately 46,375 individuals under custody held at 54 state facilities and 35,855 parolees supervised throughout seven regional offices.
    • Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Education, Legal
  • Division of Criminal Justice Services County Re-entry Task Force Initiative
    • Mission: DCJS enhances public safety by providing resources and services that inform decision making and improve the quality of the criminal justice system.
    • Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Legal, Mental Health
  • National Alliance of Faith and Justice
    • Mission: NAFJ is a nonprofit association of criminal justice professionals and community leaders, whose mission is to promote the value of the inclusion of faith in addressing prevention, consequences, and resolutions of crime with emphasis upon the most culpable and vulnerable issues and stakeholders.
    • Services offered: Education, Family, Housing, Spiritual Services
  • Project: 2nd Chance
    • Mission: To help transition adult[s] from a life of bondage to success, to assist and encourage youth to be better, to grow, and to not live in hopelessness, and to assist current incarcerated offenders in living better lives.
    • Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Education, Housing, Legal
  • Power Inside
    • Mission: Is a holistic harm reduction program for women in Baltimore. We co-create safe spaces where women celebrate their strengths, heal from violence, and work toward justice.
    • Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Housing, Medical
Garland Brewster headshot

After a successful 25-year career in the IT industry, Garland is now a Reentry Educator with The Relaunchpad. He has significant experience writing documents (resumes, LinkedIn profiles, etc.) and advising job seekers. Garland shares his experience overcoming legal challenges to help others in similar circumstances move forward and find happiness and prosperity.