"Vem vill sysselsätta dem, när det finns andra kandidater att välja på?" : En kvalitativ studie om arbetsgivares resonemang vid rekrytering av personer med kriminellt förflutet

Sammanfattning: Title: Who wants to hire them, when there are other candidates? The aim of this study was to gain deeper understanding regarding employers’ thoughts about hiring ex-offenders. This to illustrate how it affects the reintegration into society. We wanted to examine the significance of a person's background, what obstacles employers consider to exist in the labour market and what they believe would have a positive effect on reintegration into the labour market. The empirical evidence in this study has been analysed out of perspectives from theories about labelling and deviance as well as the concept of social exclusion together with previous research in the field. Six employers were interviewed to share their thoughts on hiring people with a criminal record. We distinguished four themes which emerged from the employer’s reasoning about hiring ex-offenders: the applicant's background, significant factors for employers reasoning, obstacles in the labour market and positive reintegration into the labour market. Conclusions made from this study have shown that employers decisions are influenced by prejudices in society as well as the company’s guidelines and resources. The study has also shown that employers experience the need for more actions from politicians to contribute to a positive reintegration into the labour market for ex-offenders. Finally, this study conclude that employers believe that there are characteristics and strategies that facilitate re-entry into the labour market for people with criminal records.