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With the unemployment rate under constant review, one of the most important questions being asked is: “what factors are causing unemployment?”

Gaining occasional attention is the notion of background checks leading to higher unemployment since they can bar applicants with a criminal record from landing a job.

The reality is background checks – that are performed correctly – don’t contribute to higher unemployment, they increase employment.

How?

1. In many cases, the appropriate scope of a background check for misdemeanor convictions only spans seven years into the applicant’s criminal history. This is done so that any recent misdemeanor counts can be considered when deciding whether or not to hire an applicant. If an applicant was convicted of a misdemeanor crime more than seven years ago – for the majority of employers – that crime is no longer representative of the applicant’s recent behavior or personality. Many employers, however, continue to review felony convictions beyond seven years.
2. For many employers, even crimes committed within the last seven years will not bar applicants from employment. Only crimes that specifically relate to the type of job the applicant is applying for could potentially prevent that applicant from the position.For example, a person convicted of retail theft will likely be rejected from working a job in retail, but not necessarily from working a job in construction, data entry, or skilled work.
3. Due to recent “ban-the-box” laws, qualified applicants with a recent criminal record are granted interviews and provided the chance to explain their criminal records. A positive example would be if the applicant were convicted of “disorderly conduct” when in fact they were part of a peaceful protest in which they were not active in any dangerous or reckless behavior.
4. Based on EEOC guidelines, employers should review or consider arrest records for the basis making hiring decisions.

Background checks that are conducted properly do not permanently bar people from employment. Applicants will be denied employment for any criminal record that poses a risk to the employer. Because of this, background screening does not deny Americans the ability to work, but rather promotes the accurate placement of the workforce in the country. Ultimately background screening aids in the creation of long-term employment relationships.