In recent years the United States economy has been booming and the unemployment rate has dropped significantly.  The result of this situation has turned into a shortage of available employees for open positions across the country.  While hiring qualified candidates for certain positions has become increasingly more difficult that does not mean that employers should become lax in their employment screening efforts.

The situation is so prevalent that the term “employee ghosting” has become a common term used when a potential employee gets an interview or even gets hired for a job and then never shows up for work.

Another factor is Ban-the-Box legislation that prevents employers in a certain jurisdiction, State etc. from asking a job applicant if they have a criminal background record.  It is clear that with a booming economy (leaving employers with smaller applicant pools) and not being able to ask about criminal history until an initial offer is made is helping people like ex-cons find gainful employment which may lead to a reduction in recidivism and give many US citizens the opportunity they need to live a productive and meaningful life.

The effects of low unemployment have been felt across the country.

In Colorado the labor shortage has had wide-ranging affects on business and business owners.

From the Coloradoan (Aug 11, 2018):

A decade ago, L&L Acoustical averaged about 60 jobs a month.

Today, the drywall company completes 35 to 40 jobs, not because the work is shriveling up — quite the opposite. There’s enough work to do 60 to 70 jobs in Fort Collins’ robust housing climate, co-owner Gery Lockman said.

While work is plentiful, the workers are not.  ^{coloradoan.com/story/money/2018/08/11/colorado-labor-shortage-worsens-fort-collins-housing-woes/928718002/}

Another phenomenon related to plentiful employment is something called “ghosting.”

From Jacksonville Florida’s NBC affiliate, News4Jax (Jul 26, 18):

You’ve probably heard of ghosting — where people go out on a date and never hear from that person again. Well, it’s something that’s become more common in the professional world.

People are landing an interview or a job and then turn into a no-show.

Business owners and staffing agencies say they are dealing with “employee ghosting” now more than ever before.  ^{news4jax.com/news/employee-ghosting-spooking-business-owners}

It is certainly the case that some employers have altered pre-employment background screening policies in order to fill open positions but employers should remain diligent in their hiring policy.  Even with low unemployment rates and smaller applicant pools it still remains a best practice to work with a professional employment screening agency before hiring anyone.

To read more about this subject read recent press release found at: Booming Economy Helps “Ban-the-Box”