Employers move towards continuous workforce monitoring as fraud concerns grow

Employers are moving away from treating background screening as a one-time hiring exercise and are increasingly adopting continuous workforce monitoring as concerns around fraud and workplace risk continue to rise.

New findings from First Advantage’s 2026 Global Workforce Trends Report show that risk mitigation is now the primary driver behind screening activity across industries and regions. The research found that 89% of hiring professionals plan to introduce additional screening and identity verification tools within the next 2 years.

The report suggests employers are becoming increasingly concerned about candidate misrepresentation, identity fraud and wider workforce risks. As a result, screening is evolving from a pre-employment requirement into an ongoing process that extends throughout an employee’s time with an organisation.

The trend is already gaining traction. According to the research, 82% of chief human resources officers said their organisations are carrying out rescreening or continuous workforce monitoring of existing employees, reflecting a growing focus on proactive risk management rather than relying solely on checks conducted during recruitment.

The shift comes at a time when trust is under pressure from both sides of the employment relationship. Employers are reporting higher levels of candidate fraud, while job seekers are becoming increasingly cautious about the legitimacy of vacancies and employers.

Rolf Bezemer, general manager international at First Advantage, said: “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 recognising 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.”

Bezemer added: “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.”