A report suggests that "perceived prejudice among potential employers" is one of the main reasons why long-term homeless people are unable to get work.
In the survey Cork Simon Community also found other significant barriers to the homeless finding work such as being out of work for a long time, having poor mental and physical health, and low self confidence, are significant.
Two-thirds of those surveyed were found to have left school early.
The authors of the report say that leaving school early exacerbates other barriers such as low literacy, low confidence and low levels of qualification.
Alcohol or drug dependences were highlighted by almost 60% of those interviewed as making it harder to think about working.
The report also found that while employment and training supports are in place, they are only most effective when people are in secure, long term housing.
The report concludes that despite these severe challenges, homeless people want to improve their skills.
91 regular Cork Simon residents were interviewed in the survey, the majority of whom were men aged between 35 and 44 years-of- age.
