Predictors of Stable Employment Among Female Inmates in New Jersey

This study surveyed 908 female inmates at New Jersey's sole state correctional facility for women to identify factors that predict stable employment prior to incarceration. The research used two measures of employment stability: level of employment (full-time versus part-time work) and length of employment (ability to maintain jobs for one year or longer).

Education emerged as the strongest predictor of stable employment. Women with high school education had nearly twice the likelihood of securing full-time employment compared to those without high school completion, while those with college education showed even greater employment stability. Behavioral health treatment also proved crucial, with women who received treatment for substance abuse or mental health disorders demonstrating significantly better employment outcomes than those who needed but did not receive such services.

The study found that approximately half of the surveyed women were regularly employed prior to incarceration, with 63% working full-time positions. However, employment was predominantly in lower-prestige service occupations such as childcare, food service, and temporary positions. Factors commonly assumed to impact women's employment, such as having children under 18 or experiencing victimization, showed no significant association with employment stability.

The findings underscore the importance of educational programming and behavioral health treatment in correctional facilities to improve post-release employment outcomes. The research recommends enhanced educational opportunities within prisons and expanded access to substance abuse and mental health treatment both during incarceration and upon community reentry.