Colorado small businesses are supportive of criminal justice initiatives – Colorado Newsline

I’m pleased to see the Colorado Legislature is working towards reducing barriers to occupational licenses for justice-impacted individuals.

This proposal sets a new precedent for job seekers with prior nonviolent records, further enabling them to enter the workforce, start their own businesses, or work for small businesses, ultimately increasing their economic independence and opportunities.

This effort is particularly timely, because Colorado ranks highest in the nation in worker shortages, according to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce analysis. Small businesses are still grappling with workforce shortages stemming from pandemic-related challenges. However, this proposal will help address this issue by making it easier to access licenses for a number of professions such as construction workers, plumbers, electricians, landscape architects, and cosmetologists, opening up a pool of potential new employees or entrepreneurs.

What’s more, small businesses are supportive of this type of proposal. A Small Business Majority survey reported that a majority (79%) of small business owners favor reforms that allow people with old convictions to receive fairer access to occupational licenses.

I urge the Legislature to move forward with this important proposal. It will not only support small businesses but also help fill the gaps in the labor market as they continue to recover from the pandemic.