IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
This guide provides general information about employment opportunities in the state or jurisdiction covered by this guide. While we strive for accuracy, hiring policies change frequently. Always verify current hiring practices directly with employers. Individual results vary based on offense type, time since conviction, and specific job requirements. This is not legal advice. Consult an attorney for guidance on your specific situation.
Felon Friendly Jobs in Detroit, MI
2026 Employers, Free Reentry Help and Record Clearing
November 3, 2026
Looking for felon friendly jobs in Detroit? Detroit anchors a metro area with about 2.04 million nonfarm jobs (BLS, September 2026, preliminary). Professional and business services and trade, transportation and utilities lead, followed by education and health services, and manufacturing, long tied to the auto industry, still has about 235,000 jobs. Hiring decisions are made case by case, so always check the current job posting for the role and location you want. Last reviewed November 2026.
Employers hiring in the Detroit area
Within the city, large employers include Rocket Companies, Stellantis, the City of Detroit, Henry Ford Health and the Detroit Medical Center, and Ford, Stellantis and General Motors top the regional list, per Detroit Regional Chamber data. The national employers below hire across the metro; start with our guides, then search each careers site for openings near you.
Browse all 370+ employer guides
Free job and reentry help in Detroit
Detroit at Work / Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation: Detroit's public workforce agency and Michigan Works! site, with job placement, training, career advice and support services, including reentry support, at service centers across the city.
Project Clean Slate (City of Detroit): Free expungement help from city attorneys and legal assistants for Detroit residents with proof of residency; it has cleared more than 20,000 convictions since 2016.
Lakeshore Legal Aid Expungement Clinics: Free clinics where Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County residents can talk with an attorney about clearing their record. Pre-registration is required; email probono@lakeshorelegalaid.org.
Michigan Citizen Reentry Initiative (MiCRI): A state program that provides job training, career guidance and employer matching before and after release, with partner sites in Detroit.
Safe & Just Michigan: Statewide nonprofit with plain-language guides and FAQs on Michigan's Clean Slate and automatic expungement laws. Call (517) 482-7753.
Clearing your record in Michigan
Michigan calls record clearing expungement, or setting aside a conviction, and has both automatic and petition-based options.
Under Clean Slate, eligible convictions have been cleared automatically since April 11, 2023: misdemeanors after 7 years and felonies after 10 years, counted from sentencing or release from prison, whichever is later.
You can also apply to the court sooner: after 3 years for most misdemeanors, 5 years for one felony or certain serious misdemeanors, and 7 years for more than one felony. Lifetime limits are up to 3 felonies, unlimited misdemeanors and no more than 2 assaultive crimes.
Not eligible: offenses punishable by life in prison and most sex offenses. Some traffic convictions can be set aside but stay on your driving record. If an old record should have cleared automatically, check it on the Michigan State Police ICHAT system (a fee may apply).
Free help: Project Clean Slate for Detroit residents, Lakeshore Legal Aid clinics for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb residents, and the Michigan Attorney General's expungement assistance pages. Proposed Clean Slate 2.0 changes aren't law as of 2026.
Your rights when applying in Detroit
Michigan has no ban-the-box law for private employers. In 2018 the state removed the criminal history question from state job applications.
The City of Detroit dropped the record question for city jobs in 2010 and waits until you're interviewed or found otherwise qualified. A 2015 state law bars local governments from regulating what private employers ask on applications, so private employers in Detroit may still ask.
Michigan law doesn't require private employers to do an individualized review of your record, but expunged convictions are removed from public view, so most employer background checks won't show them.
Federal Bonding Program: Michigan's Fidelity Bonding Program gives employers a free bond of $5,000 to $25,000 with no deductible for your first six months in a full-time job. Call 313-410-9498 or ask at a Michigan Works! center.
The federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit lapsed for people hired after December 31, 2025, and hadn't been renewed as of fall 2026.
Next steps
Sources
This page is for general information and is not legal advice. Employer policies and laws change; confirm details with the employer or a legal aid organization before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my old Michigan conviction be cleared automatically?
It may be. Since April 2023, eligible misdemeanors clear after 7 years and eligible felonies after 10 years, as long as you have no new convictions.
How do I check whether my record was cleared?
Look up your record on the Michigan State Police ICHAT system (a fee may apply). If something should have cleared and didn't, contact the State Police.
Can I apply to clear my record sooner?
Yes, if you're eligible. You can apply to the court after 3 years for most misdemeanors, 5 years for one felony, or 7 years for more than one felony.
How many convictions can be expunged in Michigan?
Up to three felonies and unlimited misdemeanors in your lifetime, with no more than two assaultive crimes.
Is there free expungement help in Detroit?
Yes. Project Clean Slate is free for Detroit residents, and Lakeshore Legal Aid runs free clinics for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb residents.
Can a private employer in Detroit ask about my record?
Yes. Michigan has no ban-the-box law for private employers, and state law stops cities from adding one.
Does the City of Detroit ask about records on job applications?
No. Detroit dropped the question in 2010 and waits until you're interviewed or found otherwise qualified.
Where can I get free job help in Detroit?
Detroit at Work, run by the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, is the city's Michigan Works! agency, with job placement, training and career advice.
What is fidelity bonding?
It's free insurance that covers an employer for your first six months on the job. In Michigan, call 313-410-9498 or ask at a Michigan Works! center.
Is the WOTC tax credit still available for employers who hire me?
Not for people hired after December 31, 2025. It hadn't been renewed as of fall 2026.