Employers are rapidly moving away from one-off pre-employment screening towards continuous workforce monitoring, as rising fraud risks and declining trust reshape hiring practices.
New data from First Advantage’s 2026 Global Workforce Trends Report reveals that screening is becoming a core, ongoing requirement across the entire employee lifecycle, rather than a single checkpoint at the point of hire.
[R&A Comment – We published this blog post addressing the importance of continuous monitoring of employees. In it we highlight why it is a business best practice that can help protect against negligent retention and negligent hiring.]According to the research in First Advantage’s 2026 Global Workforce Trends Report, risk mitigation ranks as the most important component of background screening across all industries and regions, with nearly nine in ten hiring professionals (89%) planning to introduce additional screening and identity verification tools within the next two years. This data reflects growing concern around candidate misrepresentation, identity fraud, and workforce risk.
More than four in five CHROs (82%) say their businesses are conducting rescreening or continuous workforce monitoring, signaling a move towards more proactive and sustained risk management.
This evolution comes as trust across the hiring process is placed under increasing strain. Employers are facing higher levels of candidate fraud, while job seekers are becoming more cautious about the legitimacy of roles and employers.
Rolf Bezemer, General Manager International at First Advantage, commented:
“Screening is no longer a one-time event. What we are seeing is a fundamental shift towards ongoing verification throughout the employee lifecycle. Employers are recognizing that risk does not stop once someone is hired. The findings of the First Advantage’s 2026 Global Workforce Trends Report highlight a broader reset in how trust is established and maintained in the workplace. With both employers and job seekers more alert to potential risks, screening is increasingly seen as a shared priority rather than a back-office compliance exercise.”
“As fraud becomes more sophisticated and trust may become harder to establish, businesses may consider how they continually screen, mitigate the risks to protect their workforce. At the same time, this has to be balanced with maintaining a positive and transparent experience for employees and candidates.”
James P. Randisi, President of Randisi & Associates, Inc., has been helping employers protect their clients, workforce and reputation through implementation of employment screening and drug testing programs since 1999. This post does not constitute legal advice. Randisi & Associates, Inc. is not a law firm. Always contact competent employment legal counsel. To learn more about the rights of employees who test positive for marijuana, Mr. Randisi can be contacted by phone at 410.336.0287 or Email: info@randisiandassociates.com or the website at Randisiandassociates.com
