ADP Annual Pre-Employment Screening Index Reveals Background Checks for Criminal Records Conducted Three Times More Than Other Checks
Criminal and Driving Record Checks Most Popular
ROSELAND, New Jersey (April 29, 2008) – ADP ® (NYSE: ADP) Employer Services, a leading provider of HR, payroll and benefits administration services, today released its annual screening index, a yearly evaluation of employment screening and hiring trends. The index shows that of the nearly 5.8 million background checks completed, criminal background checks were by far the most popular screening tool by HR departments in 2007, outnumbering all other background checks by more than three times. ADP clients conducted 1.7 million criminal background checks last year; driving records were second to criminal checks, with almost 500,000 completed.
The annual study of ADP customer screening and selection programs provides insight into both the priorities of HR recruiters and the more common background issues of job candidates.
“Our annual ADP Screening Index gives us a glimpse of what is happening in the pre-employment arena, and allows us to share this valuable data with our clients,” said Jim Brown, Senior Division Vice President/General Manager of ADP Pre-Employment Services. “It is interesting to see which screening tools employers are using to find the best possible candidates for positions in their organization and the frequency with which they may encounter background screening hits.”
Notable results and trends from this year’s Screening Index include:
* Ten percent of background checks came back with at least one hit;
* More than one in three candidates have violations or convictions on their driving record, including 10 percent who have had their licenses suspended, revoked or withdrawn in the last seven years;
* Forty-four percent of job candidates who were checked for credit have at least one mark on their credit reports;
* One out of 20 (5 percent) of the candidate reference verifications that contained information differences also had at least one negative remark about the candidate;
* Eight percent of candidates had a previous workers’ compensation claim;
* Of the 1.7 million criminal record checks, 6 percent of candidates showed a criminal record over the last seven years;
ADP’s 2008 Screening Index comprises computerized calculations of the background verifications performed during the 2007 calendar year. Since its inception, the Screening Index has shown the different areas in which candidate screening can help employers by highlighting where data inconsistencies and omissions on a candidate’s resume can exist. The Index specifically measures criminal records, employment history, education and credential records, as well as driving, credit and workers’ compensation claim records. The Screening Index has also evolved to include background screening results within specific industries, including manufacturing, health services, food stores and services, business services, transportation and retail.
For additional Screening Index statistics please go to: http://www.adphire.com/screeningIndex.html.
ADP offers screening and selection services to help employers identify the best job candidates with automated services that make selection of employees easier. Background screening from ADP can help reduce hiring liabilities such as applicant dishonesty, workplace violence, theft and fraud. ADP integrates its background screening and selection services with its tax credit and applicant management offerings to provide employers with a complete suite of pre-employment hiring tools.
Source: ADP
