Study: Screening job applicants

2001

While nearly every new employee is interviewed in the course of job screening, one in eight recent hires in 2001 also reported undergoing a security check, according to a new study published today in Perspectives on Labour and Income. Medical examinations were required of 11% of recent hires, but have been declining in importance over time.

Before 1980, job applicants were five times more likely to undergo a medical examination than a security check. In contrast, in 2000 and 2001, they were slightly more likely to undergo a security check than a medical exam. (This was before the September 11 terrorist attacks.)

This unique study, based on the 2001 Workplace and Employee Survey (WES), explores the prevalence and trends in the use of security checks, medical examinations and drug tests in hiring, as well as variations by industry, occupation, workplace size and selected worker characteristics.

Security checks were most common for people seeking professional jobs, notably teachers and health workers. Law enforcement officers and information technology personnel also fell into this group. One in every six people hired into such positions in 2000 and 2001 underwent security screening of some sort.

The growth in information technology jobs, which are relatively more susceptible to costly security breaches, was accompanied by a steady rise in security checks.

WES data showed that an estimated 9.1 million people reported at least one form of screening in 2001. To examine changes over time, this group was divided up according to when they were hired by their current employer. About 382,000 were hired prior to the 1980s, whereas just over 2.9 million were hired in 2000 or 2001.

Before 1980, about 25% of people underwent a medical examination, while only 5% underwent a security check. By 2000 and 2001, the proportion who had undergone a security check had doubled to 12%, while the proportion who had taken a medical examination had fallen to only 11%.

Security screening also increased with workplace size. Workplaces with at least 500 employees screened 18% of their new hires in 2000 and 2001. This was more than twice the proportion of only 8% in small workplaces (fewer than 20 employees).

Medical examinations were most common for professional occupations, including teachers and health workers.

New hires aged 45 to 54 were relatively more likely to have to take a medical examination, while those aged 25 to 44 were more likely to be given a drug test.

Drug tests, rarely used for screening before 1990, are now required for roughly 1 in 50 job applicants. However, this proportion rises to almost 1 in 10 job applications in primary product manufacturing industries.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2615.

The article "Screening job applicants" is available in the May 2006 online edition of Perspectives on Labour and Income, Vol. 7, no. 5 (75-001-XIE, free). To obtain a copy, go to the Our products and services page on our website.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Doreen Duchesne (613-951-6379; doreen.duchesne@statcan.gc.ca), Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division.