An evaluation of the impact of the Virginia employment commission's applicant screening procedure on the job service applicant

Abstract

The Virginia Employment Commission's Job Service has implemented an automated testing procedure to refer applicants to job openings. This procedure, Validity Generalization (VG) testing, utilizes the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) to assess and predict ability for successful performance in all occupations. The purpose of this study was to assess applicants' reactions to VG testing and to evaluate VG' s impact on applicants' subsequent placement outcomes. Twelve research questions were developed to examine applicants' attitudes toward 1) the GATB's useful-ness as an ability test and referral tool, 2) the services provided by the Job Service, and 3) their job.

Overall findings revealed certain important trends. First, although initial reactions to VG were favorable, applicants' attitudes twelve weeks later were much less favorable, indicating dissatisfaction with the outcome of Job Service placement eff0rts. Only 7% of applicants tested were placed through VG referral. Second, findings indicated that VG testing produced no significant negative impact on applicant subgroups, such as minorities, females, Veterans, etc., relative to other applicants.

Finally, results suggested that applicants placed through VG referral were no more satisfied with those jobs, perceived them to be no better person/job 'matches', and were no less likely to turnover than applicants placed through other means.

Due to insufficient sample sizes for many analyses, the reliability of certain findings is uncertain. It was recommended that the VEC increase the number of applicant referrals made through VG, ensure that computer-maintained records are accurate and accessible and that Job Service personnel more-stringently follow the 'top-down' rank-ordered referral procedures which optimize the effectiveness of VG testing.