This month ADP released its 12th Annual Screening Index report summarizing its evaluation of employment screening and hiring trends.  The summary was gleaned from nearly 5.5. million individual background checks and 1.7 million criminal background checks performed during calender year 2008.  The Screening Index:noted several interesting data points:

• Nine percent of background checks contained an adverse record (concerning criminal history, credit and driving records).
• Forty-six percent of reference and credential verifications revealed a discrepancy between information provided by candidates and what the screening revealed on employment, education and/or reference checks.
• More than one-third (37 percent) of driving record checks showed “one or more violation(s) or conviction(s).”
• Approximately six percent of the criminal record checks revealed a criminal record within the last seven years (out of 1.7 million checks performed).  

Because employers utilize background screens to identify appropriate candidates for employment; confirm the veracity of information provided on employment applications and as part of a comprehensive strategy of maintaining a safe workplace, the ADP summary provides interesting information about the American workforce –on a macro level. A copy of the full report can be downloaded here (must provide ADP with some identifying information prior to download).