Can I Work in Construction After Prison?
The trades care most about whether you show up and work safely.
Many construction employers care most about three things: that you show up, that you work safely, and that you do the job well.
That doesn’t mean a record never matters. Some employers and some sites do run background checks, and jobs at places like schools or hospitals usually ask for more. But for many entry-level site jobs, your safety training and work habits count for a lot.
In short: entry-level site work can be one of the quicker ways back into steady work, and a crew will often respect someone who is honest about their past.
Get your safety certificates. Ask for work in person. Let your work speak for you.
FROM COLE
For a long time, my job title was my identity. When I lost it, I had to find out who I was without it. Incarceration, recovery and sobriety taught me that a title isn’t a foundation. Rebuilding is.
Your job title is not your identity. Skills, habits and the people around you are what you build on. Now I help people coming home after time in custody build that foundation, one practical step at a time.
HOW TO GET BACK TO WORK IN CONSTRUCTION
A common belief: “My record shuts me out of the trades.” Many people rule themselves out before they ever ask. A record can matter for some jobs, but not every employer runs a check.
A better approach: “My job is to show up trained and ready, and to ask.”
-
Most sites will want to see safety training before you start. These are the ones employers often ask for:
Working at Heights, from a provider approved by the Ontario government
WHMIS
Standard First Aid & CPR
Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps (online, from the Government of Ontario)
Extra tickets that can help:
Forklift, skid steer or telehandler training
Traffic control
Try to finish a few of these before you start asking around. Keep copies in a folder, so when a foreman asks what you bring, you can show them.
-
Some kinds of construction work are easier to get into than others.
Good places to start: residential framing, roofing, demolition, concrete and formwork, landscaping. These often hire entry-level labourers.
Ask first: jobs at schools, daycares, hospitals, long-term care homes and high-security sites usually need extra checks, such as a Vulnerable Sector Check or security clearance. Not sure what a check would show? See our background checks guide.
-
Online job boards are fine, but don’t stop there. Go to where the work is. Never walk onto an active work site: it isn’t safe, and you’ll be asked to leave. Go to the site trailer, the gatehouse, or the company shop or yard early in the morning, before the crew heads out.
Ask for the foreman or site superintendent. Introduce yourself and keep it short. For example:
"I'm looking for work. I've got my Working at Heights, WHMIS, and First Aid. I show up early, I don't complain, and I'm not afraid of hard work. Do you need hands?"
That’s it. Bring your resume and your certificates in case they ask. Showing up in person shows you’re serious.
-
Whether you have to tell an employer about a record depends on the job and the type of check. Our guide on telling employers about a record explains the basics, and a community legal clinic can answer questions about your rights. If it comes up, keep your answer short and honest, and bring it back to the work. Our interview guide has more help.
“Yes, I have a record from a few years ago. I’ve done the work to turn things around since then, and I’m here to work.”
“COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
Ruling yourself out. Not every construction employer runs a background check. Ask before you decide a job isn’t for you.
Only applying online. Job boards are one route. Talking to a person at the shop or site office is often another, and it lets them meet you.
Walking onto an active site. Never go past the safety fencing without permission and the right protective gear. Go to the site office or trailer instead.”