Benefits March 21, 2006

ADP: Job Applicant Background Checks up 12% in 2005

March 21, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Although the number of employment background checks performed in 2005 by ADP Employer Services was up 12% over the year, inconsistencies between an applicant's material and the source were down slightly.
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A news release said that ADP’s 2005 Screening Index showed that its Screening and Selection Services unit carried out 4.86 million checks, up from the 4.3 million in 2004 (See ADP: 16% Rise In Use of Background Checks in 2004 ).

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ADP said it found a data inconsistency in education, employment and credential verifications in 49% of the cases in 2005 – down a tick from the 50% found in 2004. The 2004 figure itself represented a 2% drop from 2003, according to the ADP data.

“The consistent rise in the number of background checks performed year after year is evidence of the diligence employers are taking in the recruitment and hiring process,” said Dean Suposs, General Manager of ADP Screening and Selection Services, in the news release.

ADP also reported that in 2005:

  • 5% of the criminal background checks revealed a criminal record in the last seven years.
  • 6% of the data inconsistencies discovered were received with negative remarks about the applicant
  • among the completed driving record checks, 24% had one or more violations or convictions. Five percent had four or more.
  • 46% of the completed credit report checks showed a judgment, lien or bankruptcy, or the employee had been reported to a collection agency.
  • 8% of the workers’ compensation inquiries revealed an existing claim.

For additional Screening Index statistics go here .

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