‘Fair chance’ employers connect with job seekers in Reading | Reading Area

READING, Pa. – An event in Reading on Monday helped job seekers who need a second chance.

“Connections Work” hosted a spring career fair at the DoubleTree Hotel.

Anyone could attend, but the event featured employers who offer “fair chance” employment. That means they will hire people who are on probation or parole, or who have past involvement in the criminal justice system.

“The stats are 1 out of 3 people nationwide have had some type on infraction in their past, so an employer who’s not able to or not willing to hire someone with a background is actually losing out on one third of the potential talent pool,” said Lori Stoudt, with Connections Work.

The organization also hosts a job fair like this one in the fall.