Does a Background Check Show Employment History?
Sometimes — but not always. Whether your employment history appears on a background check depends on what type of check the employer ordered.
What background checks usually include (by default)
Most standard background checks include:
Criminal records,
Address history,
SSN validation,
Sex offender registry,
Sometimes, driving records (for driving jobs).
These do not automatically pull your employment history.
When your employment history does get verified
If the employer chooses an employment verification search, the background check company will try to confirm:
Job titles,
Start and end dates,
Whether you actually worked there,
Sometimes, whether you’re eligible for rehire (depending on employer policy).
This verification is done either through your employer directly, through payroll databases, or through automated systems like The Work Number.
What employment history does not show
A background check generally cannot access:
Your full resume history
Your performance reviews
Reasons for leaving
Internal HR notes
Salary history (unless voluntarily provided by the employer)
They only verify factual details, mostly dates and job titles.
What happens if there’s a mistake
If the verification is incorrect, contains incorrect dates, is missing jobs, includes jobs you never had, or doesn’t match, you have the right to dispute the error with the background check company. They must reinvestigate and correct any inaccuracies under the FCRA.
If an error causes a denial or job loss, you may also have the right to compensation.