NCJ Number
161098
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: January 1996 Pages: 32-34
Date Published
January 1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The term employability is frequently used in the context of vocational assessment to describe an individual's ability to find, adapt to, and keep a job, and the concept of employability used by the Quebec Regional Reception Centre to assess and develop employability programs for offenders is discussed.
Abstract
A three-step process has been developed to help offenders become more employable: (1) devise a method for evaluating the individual's occupational personality; (2) predict occupational potential or ability to learn and pursue progress after the first work placement; and (3) ensure individuals adapt to work by offering programs that modify or improve essential employment- related behaviors. Employability is not simply determined by factors related to job training and occupational skills. Management of factors such as free time, money, attire, accommodations, family relations, personal stability, and health also has a direct impact on employability. Psychometric tests that can be used to obtain qualitative data on an offender's ability to perform specific job tasks include personality and intellectual performance tests and interest inventories. In particular, interest inventories help determine whether offenders have made sound choices based on their basic interests. An offender who is not able to make choices and is instead willing to leave his or her future to chance is often unable to satisfy employer demands. The importance of evaluating academic knowledge is stressed. Structured activities for use in skills evaluation are noted, as well as programs offered by the Correctional Service of Canada to develop essential employment-related behaviors. 4 footnotes