‘Ban the Box’ Laws May Be Harming Young Black Men Seeking Jobs

Many states have recently passed “ban the box” laws, which prevent employers from asking job applicants whether they have a criminal record. This article from The Pew Charitable Trusts examines several recent studies that show that these laws may be preventing black men from getting job interviews. Employers may be weeding out young black men because they are disproportionately more likely to have criminal records or raising the minimum requirements for jobs so that these men no longer qualify. To be more effective, “ban the box” laws need to be paired with other interventions that prevent racial discrimination in hiring.