Jobs for felons are not easy to find in the current economic condition. One way for an ex-con to get assistance is to visit or call the state employment office. Each state has a slightly different name (for example, "Department of Workforce Services" or "Agency for Workforce Innovation") but the services they provide are mostly the same. They have thousands of jobs listed in their database and they should be able to help you on the road to finding jobs for felons.

All of these government employment offices have their own website where jobs are listed and job seekers can simply upload their resume or apply right away for those jobs. However, this is a rather inefficient approach since you will not know from the job listing on the website whether or not these are companies that hire felons.

It’s better to call or visit the employment office and ask them for assistance in finding job opportunities for felons. When you call or visit their office, just be honest about your situation. Each year around 650,000 people are released from state and federal prisons in the U.S. so your situation is hardly unique. The state employment office will have at least one person who will know which employers offer felon friendly jobs.

Although most of the jobs for ex felons that are offered will probably not be very good ones, this is still a good starting point if you are willing to work from the bottom up.

While you are there you should also ask about government programs in your state that are in place to help you reenter the labor force. They may also have information about non-government resources for felons such as church-based groups and other non-profit organizations that are active in your area. This can be a great resource in finding employment for felons.

To give an example of one such program, the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is based in New York City. Its Neighborhood Work Project provides immediate employment opportunities to work releases, felons and ex-convicts while its Vocational Development Program assists them in preparing for long-term careers for felons. CEO reports that within two to three months, more than 65% of participants are placed in full-time jobs.

Job hunts can be really frustrating and oftentimes you might want to give up. Try to stay focused and positive and make the most of whatever resources are available to you.