Screening industry grows by 11%

THERE has been an 11% increase in the demand for background screening services in South Africa and Africa over the last five years.

In addition, a candidate ’ s educational history has been identified as the most likely to contain discrepancies when compared to other background screening checks.

This is according to Managed Integrity Evaluation ’ s (MIE) 2015 Background Screening Index, released earlier this year.

MIE CEO and director Ina van der Merwe says: “The growing demand is due to the benefits of background screening, which include improved quality of hires, staff retention, mitigation of risk and reputational harm and assistance in managing costs. ”

According to the Index, qualification checks were requested the most last year.

“Out of over 470 000 conducted in 2015, more than 70 000 were negative, inconsistent or fraudulent.”

Van der Merwe says: “We have also noted an increase in candidates ’ credit histories being found as unfavourable. With this in mind, it can be argued that more individuals who are qualified to work in the financial industry may not be suitable to do so.”

MIE forecasts more growth this year. “The job market is becoming competitive and jobseekers are becoming desperate.” –