The call comes as part of the new Future Horizons employment scheme, launched in partnership with HMP Norwich and backed by Norse Group chief executive Justin Galliford.
He said: “Most companies and public sector organisations struggle to find good candidates.
“From our experience, the people placed with us have been excellent.
“We’ve invested less in this project than it would have cost us to recruit the excellent employees who have joined us.
“So, it’s not only good social value, it also makes real commercial sense.”
The scheme connects ex-prisoners with employers through an online hub.
It aims to tackle both labour shortages and high reoffending rates by offering meaningful employment to those leaving prison.
Currently, 70% of employers say they would consider hiring an ex-offender, but only 17% actually do.
The reoffending rate in the UK stands at around 40%. However, men going into employment immediately on release from HMP Norwich reduce that rate by more than 50%.
Declan Moore, governor of HMP Norwich, said: “The prospect of employment means most people won’t come back.
“With this scheme, employers get to see the person they actually are first, not the person they were.
“They will often get the opportunity to ‘try before they buy’.”
The event was supported by national organisations including the CBI and the Construction Industry Training Board.
Norse Group, which employs 9,000 people across England and Wales, is helping deliver the project by supporting Category D prisoners on day release with training in fields such as highways and facilities management.
Mr Galliford said: “Some people don’t even have a first opportunity in life.
“There has to come a point where people can contribute to society.
“This is not about being soft on offending, it’s about being smart.”