NAPBS Survey Reveals Employers’ View of Background Screening Effectiveness

The National Association of Professional Background Screeners recently released its second annual industry survey on how employers view the effectiveness of background screening. According to the survey, “Nearly all respondents stated that they conduct background checks of some kind, with a majority saying they screen both part-time and full-time employees.”

The top reasons cited for screening include:

• Public safety and protecting employees, customers and others
• Improving the quality of hires
• Law/regulation requirements
• Protecting company reputation
• Prevent and/or reduce theft, embezzlement and other criminal activity

Not surprising and similar to last year’s survey results, employers cite accuracy as very important, followed by turnaround time and cost. 

According to the survey, most employers wait until a conditional job offer is extended before initiating a background screen. In addition, most employers perform one background check during the hiring stage; however, 14 percent of employers will also perform periodic background checks after the hiring stage.

The most common screenings employers conduct today include:

• County or Statewide Criminal Searches
• National Criminal Database Searches
• Social Security Trace Reports
• Sex Offender Registry Searches
• Drug Testing
• Motor Vehicle Records

Read the full survey results here.