By Mrs. Inga Balnanosienė, Director of Lithuanian Employment Service
Paulius was released on one of the weekends in March 2024. By Monday, he had already visited the Public Employment Service (PES) office in Kaunas. After registering for job search assistance, he explained that his goal was to find work as quickly as possible and expressed a preference for a job as a Loader. Before being incarcerated in 2017, Paulius had worked for a long time in this role at a shopping centre in Kaunas. He was advised to reach out to his former employer. Considering his past work performance, his positive attitude, and the goodwill of his colleagues, the company said yes. Paulius has been successfully employed there ever since.
This is just one of several such stories from Lithuania where people returning from incarceration manage to find employment or create their job opportunities – often with the help of PES consultants. However, the journey is not always as smooth or quick as it was for Paulius.
“The integration of these individuals into the labour market is not easy, and success depends not only on their determination and realistic assessment of their situation. Often, our specialists’ support is needed,” said Inga Balnanosienė, Director of the Lithuania PES. “By selecting the right path for returning to the labour market, we create opportunities to celebrate intermediate achievements, which boost self-confidence, strengthen trust in others, and motivate individuals not to give up halfway “.
According to long-term data from the Lithuanian PES, individuals in this group often lack high career ambitions. Even if they have acquired some qualifications during their time in prison, they often tell specialists during interviews that they are looking for unskilled work. They most commonly choose sectors such as construction, services, or manufacturing. In general, some of them are reluctant to mention their qualifications during registration and this arises because social stigma is one of the main barriers: society’s perception of former prisoners is often negative, which directly impacts their self-esteem and confidence. Additionally, the need for security and the desire to avoid pressure is a natural reaction when a person feels vulnerable. They choose jobs that seem less socially risky and do not require constant proof of their worth.
The emotional and psychological exhaustion experienced during imprisonment can also be a significant obstacle – it reduces their motivation to plan for the future or pursue long-term goals.
A common characteristic of this group is the limited desire to integrate into the labour market. The biggest recurring risks are the temptation to return to their previous, often toxic, environment. Some individuals, unable to adapt in Lithuania, choose to move abroad.
“We are well aware of all this. The solutions are clear. Therefore, targeted consultations with a specialist help to increase motivation to work and to hold on to life. Offering the opportunity to retrain, acquire new skills or qualifications at the right time allows individuals to take pride in the positive results they achieve,” said Inga Balnanosienė.
The mission is to help establish oneself
Jonas walked out of the prison gates on 19th July 2023. By the following day he had already arrived at the PES office in Druskininkai. He expressed a desire to find unskilled work in the construction sector. All his work experience had been gained while in prison. The first step was to create a CV with the help of a specialist. Then came more useful advice Paulius was eager to learn. Not only did he diligently participate in training, but he also asked questions about how to conduct himself during a job interview.
He realistically assessed employers’ views on his work experience and the negative responses he received. Understanding that finding work in the construction sector in the short term would be difficult, Jonas took a temporary position as a general worker in several shopping centres. After a few months, he was offered a position at a construction company. He has been working there ever since.
Another case comes from Prienai region in central Lithuania. Marius returned from prison at the end of 2022. When he registered at the PES, he informed them that he wanted to work in the construction sector. At that time, he obtained a category B driving licence for a car, as his remote rural home made it difficult to find work. Despite failing in securing a job after contacting employers based on the specialist’s suggestions, his motivation remained strong. By the spring of 2023, Marius started his own business in the construction sector under a business licence. He works like this up till now.
Darius, who lives near the industrial town of Jonava, served his sentence and, upon returning from prison, registered with the PES at the start of 2023. He had debts and was eager to start working as soon as possible. Unfortunately, he was unable to find permanent employment right away. He was offered the opportunity to participate in the Employment Promotion Program. For six months, Darius worked on temporary jobs at the local municipality office. Later, he was employed by a municipal company for temporary environmental maintenance work. Although he has not yet found permanent employment, he remains hopeful, active, and motivated. Thanks to his responsible approach to work, he earns a living through temporary jobs and is gradually paying off his debts.
How to assist them?
Similar stories can be found throughout Lithuania, but the Kaunas region stands out based on the integration indicators of returning individuals and other beneficial experiences – partly due to a few specific characteristics. The Department serves the area where the Alytus, Marijampolė, Pravieniškės 1 and Pravieniškės 2 prisons of the Lithuanian Prison Service are located. Employment market services are provided to employers in this area, including those working in these institutions.
The PES portal (www.uzt.lt) posts job vacancies for prison officers, social workers, psychologists, and others, which are often difficult to fill due to the specific nature of the work, the qualifications and physical requirements for candidates, and the need for training before employment. Specialists from the Kaišiadorys, Alytus, and Marijampolė offices participate in activities organised by the prisons for inmates, presenting the services of the Employment Service to individuals nearing the end of their sentences.
In 2024, the staff of Alytus Prison organised an introductory visit to the facility for employees of the city’s PES office. This was a very productive meeting, during which employment market services were presented, and collaboration was discussed from various angles, including assistance in finding employers for the employment of individuals with convictions. It was agreed to work closely together in the future.
One of the key tools helping individuals returning to freedom adjust and avoid past mistakes is vocational training. The number of people from this target group in the Kaunas region who have participated in such programs and successfully found employment continues to grow each year. For example, a man in the Jonava office completed a non-formal vocational training program in decorative plant cultivation and landscaping at the Kaunas Botanical Garden, where he undertook an internship. He later chose to pursue self-employment. Meanwhile, a client returning from prison in the Kaišiadorys office acquired a carpentry qualification and was employed under a labour contract. In the Marijampolė office, a man returning from prison is participating in vocational training to gain a qualification as a Painter.
“The most important and common detail in all success stories is the inner mindset, personal motivation, and ability to adapt to the changed environment of the person returning to freedom, and their ability to recall social skills. Their state of mind and inner readiness to face changes and challenges after some time of imprisonment is obvious, both in the sense of daily routines and in feelings of being ‚a stranger‘ among the others. Of course, support from loved ones and family members also plays a crucial role, as does timely, high-quality professional assistance,” explained Inga Balnanosienė, outlining the key elements of the success formula.
For the processes of labour market integration to run more smoothly and efficiently, continuous collaboration with social partners is essential. Therefore, all PES offices across the country maintain close ties with the divisions of the Lithuanian Probation Service operating in their respective areas and participate in consultative meetings. They also maintain connections with other social partners who provide support to vulnerable individuals and implement resocialisation projects.
Years of effort are bearing fruit. Slowly, but steadily, employers’ attitudes towards individuals returning from incarceration are changing. Naturally, employers primarily assess how hiring such a person might affect the overall team dynamic. However, it has been observed that when evaluating a potential future employee, they are increasingly considering the candidate’s professional skills, social abilities, and motivation, rather than focusing on their past.
In the regions, groups of employers are emerging who foster this positive attitude, conducting job interviews with individuals returning from incarceration in a friendly and professional manner, and hiring suitable candidates. Those returning from prison are employed in companies participating in the Employment Promotion Program for temporary work. Farmers are also willing to hire motivated individuals from this target group for seasonal work, particularly those who face mobility challenges and live in remote areas.
Theory and practice
The Lithuania PES has developed and effectively uses several key tools to assist socially vulnerable individuals trying to reintegrate into the labour market after serving a prison sentence. One such tool is Case Management.
A person returning to freedom faces challenges from the very first days and requires services that are somewhat different from those offered to other job seekers. The application of the Case Management principle at the Employment Service for this target group allows for the provision of comprehensive support. Its aim and purpose are to address the specific barriers that hinder individuals from finding employment.
A specially trained Case Manager evaluates not only the client’s professional abilities but also the key obstacles they face at this stage of life. These include social isolation, the ability to rebuild trust, and establishing relationships in the labour market. The process involves standard assessment and planning, as well as continuous monitoring to identify issues in a timely manner and help resolve them together.
How does it work? First, an individual employment action plan is created. This plan is tailored to each person’s specific needs, abilities, and circumstances, considering any potential barriers. It includes various services and activities designed to help overcome these obstacles and ease the individual’s adaptation to the labour market.
There is close collaboration with local authorities, which allows for the coordination of services and the provision of personalised support, ensuring that everyone receives help tailored to their needs. Working together strengthens the consistency of services, as specialists can adapt flexibly to each individual situation.
If the consultant sees a need, they can recommend active labour market policy measures that increase employment opportunities by matching job supply and demand. These include vocational training services: skills development, training, career guidance, and job skills enhancement. All of this not only helps to update professional knowledge but also enables individuals to acquire new skills, thereby increasing their chances of securing the desired job as quickly as possible.
In early 2024, the PES began working more closely with the Lithuanian Prison Service (LPS). A cooperation agreement was signed with the aim of promoting the smoother social and professional reintegration of prisoners after serving their sentences. It includes joint efforts to improve communication skills of the PES specialists, as well as practical and professional competencies in working with inmates preparing for release. It also aims to organise informational consultations that will help this target group better prepare for integration into the labour market and society. In this work, Lecturers from the Lithuanian Prison Service will conduct training for Employment Service employees aimed at improving the communication skills, practical, and professional communication competencies of specialists working with inmates. After the training, specialists will be able to choose the appropriate communication style and forms when working with inmates, assess factors that may complicate communication, apply open-ended questions and active listening skills, manage and interpret non-verbal communication signals properly, recognize various emotions and feelings, express empathy appropriately, provide feedback, as well as reinforce professional ethics standards and knowledge about positive professional relationships in the workplace.
The goal is also to foster the professional growth of PES specialists, ensuring the quality of services provided to individuals preparing for or who have already been released from prison, and improving their integration processes into society, thus reducing social exclusion.
In 2025, several events are planned, including informational meetings in correctional facilities with inmates. During these meetings, inmates will receive individual or group consultations on labour market, career, and vocational guidance topics.
