MIAMI, Fla. — Hundreds of thousands of Floridians with criminal records are being funneled into temporary staffing agencies that offer lower wages, no benefits, and limited opportunities for advancement, according to a new report from the nonprofit Beyond the Bars. The analysis found the temp industry has effectively become the “default entry point after incarceration,” with more than 70% of people returning from prison in South Florida relying on a temp agency within three years of release.
Researchers reported that 57% of formerly incarcerated workers were unable to secure a full-time, minimum-wage job in the year after leaving prison. Many said they felt “disposable,” trapped in temp positions that never transition into permanent employment. Workers told researchers they often turned to labor pools because companies rejected applicants with records or because temp jobs offered the flexibility needed to comply with curfews, probation check-ins, and court requirements.
The report found that temp construction workers earn an average of $6.47 less per hour than direct hires, while warehouse temps earn $3.38 less — amounting to thousands in lost income annually. Florida has one of the largest populations of people with criminal records in the country, with 6.2 million residents affected and 157,000 incarcerated on any given day.
Beyond the Bars is calling for reforms that include stronger regulations for temp agencies, expanded job-training programs, improved protections for temp workers, and changes to probation rules that push people into unstable work.
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