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Finding jobs for felons in Portland, Oregon, isn’t too difficult. Over 650,000 people live here and there’s a range of industries to choose from. Some of the main ones are manufacturing, technology and energy. Two major interstate highways connect the city to California and the Rocky Mountains, which means a lot of goods move through Portland. So, think of warehouse and driving jobs as well.
Relaunch Pad staff have contacted over 1,000 of the biggest employers across the U.S. find out their hiring policy for former offenders and have used that information to narrow down the list of companies you’ll have the best chance at here in Portland. You shouldn’t have to struggle when it comes to finding work. We know. Many of our staff have criminal records and that’s why we’re driven to help others find work and settle in places like Portland.
Jobs that hire felons in Portland
Our search function is a whiz at helping you find jobs that hire felons in Portland. Narrow down your search even further using terms like part-time or manual labor to tailor your results.
Top companies that hire felons in Portland
And, we show a range of different types of workplaces. This helps you find a few employers to start with where you’d like to work. For example, maybe you’re confident you’d be good at customer service, or you’ve worked before in maintenance and liked it.
Read through and see the kinds of entry-level jobs these businesses have. Some may surprise you. Make sure that you select the companies that seem to have the greatest number of different entry-level positions. That suggests they may be hiring more frequently.
Are you ready to see the top companies that hire felons in Portland? If so, open up the links below.
Providence Health and Services
Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)
Before you start, one last piece of advice! You’ll need to have a good resume, right? Take a look at our resume-writing guide with a criminal record. It has all the information you need to write a terrific resume that will impress any hiring manager.
Intel
Are you a tech keek? Even if you’re not, you might like a job with a well-known computer company like Intel. Working with a big employer can provide great benefits and job security.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Sales
- Administration
- Customer Business Analyst
- IT
Providence Health and Services
Hospitals are busy places where you can often find good entry-level positions. Providence Health & Services is one of the largest employers in Portland. If you like making a difference for people, health care might be the place for you.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Housekeeping
- Patient Transport
- Custodial
- Reception
- Cafeteria Staff
Precision Castparts
This company manufactures metal parts for the aerospace industry. It’s an international firm with its headquarters and a large plant in Portland. If you don’t mind factory work and enjoy physical labor, check out the entry-level jobs below. Some names won’t be familiar so go to the company website to see the duties.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Shot blaster
- Molder
- Shell removal operator
- Process operator
Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)
Universities can be great workplaces — all that excitement and energy from the student population! It can be contagious. It’s also rewarding to know that you’ve a part to play in helping people get a higher education. Felony drug and fraud charges may present bigger barriers here, though, so keep your record in mind hwen applying.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Bookstore Cashier
- Office Clerk
- Custodian
- Security
Nike
We know you’re familiar with the Nike name! If you like their product, you might consider applying with the company. Most entry-level jobs are in sale,s but there are also some back office opportunities.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Retail Sales
- Customer Service Support
- Associate Product Line Manager
- Marketing
Daimler Trucks
One company that employs a lot of people in Portland is Daimler Trucks. They specialize in building commercial vehicles that are in use right across the country and overseas. Chances are, you see a lot of Daimler-built trucks every day! This is great entry-level factory work.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Assembler
- Material Handler
- Painter
- Office Administrator
Fred Meyer
How about working at a large grocery store chain? Actually, Fred Meyer merged with Kroger but they haven’t changed their name in Portland. They have a number of stores in the city where you can find entry-level work.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Bakery Clerk
- Deli Associate
- Cashier
- Barista
United States Bakery
Staying with the food industry, you can find entry-level jobs making bread products at United States Bakery. They’re a wholesaler that prepares and sells everything from loves of bread and rolls to donuts and cookies. You might be working different shifts, so keep that in mind.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Bakery Clerk
- Basket Washer
- Baker
- Administration
Chevron
Maybe you’d like to work at a Chevron service station? There’s certainly enough of them in and around Portland for you to find a job at.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Customer Service Representative
- Station Manager
- Attendant
- Maintenance
Kimpton
Does a job in hospitality appeal to you? If you like serving holiday and business travelers, a position at the popular Kimpton hotel chain is a good option to think about.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Front Desk Agent
- Room Attendant
- Night Porter
- Breakfast Cook
Trucking jobs for felons in Portland
Remember we said the city was a distribution hub? Many former felons find steady work with great pay in trucking. Employees are always in demand in this industry. What’s more, employers are often quite open to hiring people with a criminal record. Of course, if you have driving infractions that might make it a little harder. Even so, check this sector out to see what’s required.
Here are some good places to find trucking jobs for felons in Portland:
- CRST
- Bridgetown Trucking
- Pro Truck Lines
- Transam Trucking
Warehouse jobs for felons in Portland
Hand-in-hand with the trucking industry is the warehouse business. ‘Makes sense, doesn’t it? Warehouse jobs for felons in Portland are everywhere.
Entry-level jobs are the most common ones in warehouses. These companies depend on a lot of people to load and unload trucks, pack products for shipping, take inventory and more. Orders need to be filled accurately and merchandise must get to where it’s going quickly. It’s ‘all hands on deck’ at a warehouse.
Following are some big Portland warehouses to apply for jobs:
- KeHE Distributors-POR
- Pepsi
- Doc Marten’s Warehouse
- Graphic Packaging International
Temp agency jobs for felons in Portland
Here’s a great idea! Apply to temp agency jobs for felons in Portland. Staffing agencies are where companies go when they need people quickly. Hiring managers know that staffing agencies are good at finding talent.
Therefore, there’ll be some great employment agency jobs for felons in Portland. Once you show your new boss that you have a good work ethic and are willing to learn, there’s an excellent chance that they’ll keep you on longer. Temporary work also gives you the inside track to apply for permanent jobs.
Our picks for the best agencies to start with are:
- NW Staffing Resources
- Boly:Welch
- Opti Staffing Group
- TERRA Staffing Group
- BeginRight Employment Services
Second chance and job training programs for felons in Portland
Have you heard of Ban the Box laws? They make it illegal for employers to ask about your criminal record before they’ve offered you the job.
Sure, the job offer might be conditional on not having certain offences in your background — like a recent DUI for a driving job — but Ban the Box legislation makes it easier to get hired for your skills and experience.
The good news is that Oregon has their own Ban the Box laws for employers to follow.
There are helpful second chance and job training programs for felons in Portland to put you even further ahead. Here are some:
- Mercy Corps Northwest Reentry Program for Women Prisoners
- Mission: LIFE operates at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) in Wilsonville, OR. Students learn important skills for life, business, and a successful reentry to the community. LIFE helps our students to create productive lives after release, and to establish self-sufficiency and economic stability for themselves and their families. MCNW hopes to extend LIFE nationwide to both male and female populations by partnering with other microenterprise or reentry organizations working with incarcerated populations.
- Services offered: Education
- Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Centers
- Mission: The Mission of Helping Hands is to provide a helping hand to a sustainable life through resources, recovery, and reentry.
- Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Education, Housing
- Northwest Regional Re-entry Center (NWRRC)
- Mission: NWRRC’s mission is to support, educate and encourage our residents, while they do the work necessary, to develop and implement an Individualized Program Plan that guides them in the successful transition back into their communities/families including finding employment and housing, without reoffending. We are also committed to assuring constant supervision, providing structure for accountability and as a result protecting the community.
- Services offered: Employment, Family, Housing
- Assisting Families of Inmates
- Mission: The mission of AFOI is to provide opportunities for regular, meaningful visitation, referrals to community resources, and other services that help families cope with incarceration and prepare for release and reunification. We strive to prevent the breakdown of relationships among inmates and their families by providing regular, meaningful visitation, support, referrals and education services. Our programs help families and loved ones throughout the period of incarceration and also prepare families for a successful transition when the inmate is released from prison back into our community. Assisting Families of Inmates is one of only a handful of such programs to provide these services in Virginia and across the United States.
- Services offered: Family
