Mixed signals from prison? Postsecondary vocational credentials, race, and postrelease employment

Abstract Drawing on signaling theory, this study examines whether postsecondary correctional education (PSCE) credentials—particularly vocational certificates that comprise the majority of PSCE credentials conferred—improve postrelease employment outcomes. Despite renewed bipartisan policy interest in PSCE as a pathway to reduce labor market barriers, existing research has shown mixed and inconsistent economic returns to credentialing, with limited attention to how PSCE credentials interact with persistent racial discrimination to shape job prospects. Through a correspondence audit study of 1502 employers seeking heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) workers, this article advances our understanding of the signaling value of PSCE in skilled trade labor markets. Results indicate that HVAC credentials improved callback chances for applicants with and without prison records, yet this advantage was not adequate for completely overcoming prison record stigma. Although HVAC credentials earned during incarceration operated similarly for Black and White men, the additive effects of racial discrimination and prison record stigma created compounded disadvantages. These findings demonstrate the promise and limitations of PSCE credentials for improving job opportunities and highlight the need for integrated policy solutions that address both prison record stigma and racism in skilled labor markets.