Q18e: Can your credit history affect an employer's hiring decision?

Demographic and experience categories Yes No Do not know Refused
All respondents 32.8 ( 1.4) 50.1 ( 1.5) 17.2 ( 1.1) 0.0 ( 0.0)
AGE GROUP        
18 to 24 18.3 ( 4.0) 62.0 ( 5.0) 19.7 ( 4.1) 0.0 ( 0.0)
25 to 34 28.8 ( 3.1) 56.8 ( 3.5) 14.5 ( 2.3) 0.0 ( 0.0)
35 to 44 35.2 ( 3.3) 52.7 ( 3.4) 12.2 ( 2.3) 0.0 ( 0.0)
45 to 54 31.2 ( 3.0) 51.6 ( 3.3) 17.2 ( 2.5) 0.0 ( 0.0)
55 to 64 46.2 ( 3.7) 40.7 ( 3.6) 13.1 ( 2.5) 0.0 ( 0.0)
65 and older 36.3 ( 3.2) 37.8 ( 3.2) 25.8 ( 2.8) 0.2 ( 0.2)
INCOME        
Less than $25000 27.5 ( 2.0) 48.6 ( 2.3) 23.8 ( 2.0) 0.1 ( 0.1)
$25000 to $49999 33.2 ( 2.9) 50.7 ( 3.1) 16.1 ( 2.4) 0.0 ( 0.0)
$50000 to $74999 33.9 ( 3.3) 54.8 ( 3.5) 11.3 ( 2.1) 0.0 ( 0.0)
$75000+ 39.1 ( 3.3) 48.1 ( 3.4) 12.8 ( 2.3) 0.0 ( 0.0)
EDUCATION        
Less than high school 23.0 ( 3.2) 43.5 ( 3.7) 33.3 ( 3.4) 0.3 ( 0.3)
High school 29.3 ( 2.3) 55.4 ( 2.5) 15.4 ( 1.7) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Some post-secondary education 31.5 ( 2.6) 53.2 ( 2.9) 15.3 ( 2.0) 0.0 ( 0.0)
BA or more 40.8 ( 2.7) 44.0 ( 2.7) 15.2 ( 2.1) 0.0 ( 0.0)
ETHNICITY        
White 32.7 ( 1.8) 51.1 ( 1.9) 16.2 ( 1.4) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Black 39.6 ( 2.9) 46.6 ( 3.0) 13.5 ( 2.1) 0.2 ( 0.2)
Hispanic 24.7 ( 2.7) 47.9 ( 3.1) 27.4 ( 2.7) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Other 39.4 ( 6.3) 49.9 ( 6.4) 10.7 ( 3.5) 0.0 ( 0.0)
SEX        
Male 34.1 ( 2.2) 50.7 ( 2.3) 15.2 ( 1.7) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Female 31.6 ( 1.7) 49.7 ( 1.8) 18.7 ( 1.4) 0.1 ( 0.1)
EMPLOYMENT STATUS        
Actively employed (FT or PT) 32.1 ( 1.8) 53.9 ( 2.0) 14.0 ( 1.4) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Student 28.8 ( 8.4) 51.6 ( 8.5) 19.7 ( 6.2) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Not employed (homemaker, retired, unemployed) 34.4 ( 2.2) 42.8 ( 2.3) 22.6 ( 1.9) 0.1 ( 0.1)
Other 33.8 ( 5.8) 46.7 ( 6.5) 19.5 ( 4.9) 0.0 ( 0.0)
GEOGRAPHIC RESIDENCE        
Resident of a free report state (CO, GA, ME, MD, MA, NJ, VT) 40.5 ( 3.1) 47.8 ( 3.1) 11.5 ( 1.7) 0.2 ( 0.2)
Resident of another state 31.6 ( 1.5) 50.4 ( 1.6) 18.0 ( 1.2) 0.0 ( 0.0)
FINANCIAL AND CREDIT REPORT EXPERIENCE        
Obtained a credit report 39.2 ( 1.9) 47.3 ( 1.9) 13.5 ( 1.3) 0.1 ( 0.1)
Did not obtain a credit report 23.9 ( 1.8) 53.8 ( 2.2) 22.2 ( 1.8) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Obtained credit score 42.6 ( 2.5) 44.1 ( 2.5) 13.2 ( 1.7) 0.1 ( 0.1)
Did not obtain credit score 27.9 ( 1.6) 53.0 ( 1.8) 19.1 ( 1.4) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Disputed information on credit report 47.4 ( 3.3) 41.1 ( 3.3) 11.5 ( 2.1) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Did not dispute credit report information 29.6 ( 1.5) 52.0 ( 1.6) 18.4 ( 1.2) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Had an auto or mortgage loan 35.4 ( 1.6) 49.4 ( 1.7) 15.1 ( 1.2) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Did not have an auto or mortgage loan 23.8 ( 2.6) 52.1 ( 3.0) 24.1 ( 2.3) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Was a victim of identity theft 38.6 ( 4.2) 49.7 ( 4.4) 11.7 ( 2.7) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Was not a victim of identity theft 32.1 ( 1.4) 50.1 ( 1.5) 17.8 ( 1.2) 0.0 ( 0.0)
         
Obtained credit report due to an adverse action 37.4 ( 4.9) 47.3 ( 5.2) 15.3 ( 3.6) 0.0 ( 0.0)
Did not obtain credit report due to an adverse action 32.3 ( 1.4) 50.3 ( 1.5) 17.3 ( 1.1) 0.0 ( 0.0)

Percent estimates totaling 100% within each demographic and experience category, with standard errors in parentheses
 
GAO-05-411SP Credit Reporting Literacy Survey Data
Full Report: GAO-05-223