Accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt. So they are still felons, and can not qualify for many types of work. A pardon does not clear your record, you are still untrustworthy, dishonest, a violent offender, we can’t place you with honest working people.
When I was a boy, almost all the cleaners were Chinese. They took over the service businesses in the bay area when the RRs were done building. Sent their kids to college, so another immigrant community took over.
She walked the dogs.