Applicants 'lying more' on job applications

Fabrications on CVs and job application forms are becoming increasingly prevalent during the recession, a new study has revealed.

According to findings from the annual Powerchex Pre-employment screening survey, 19 per cent of applicants trying for jobs in London and elsewhere in financial firms had provided false or misleading information.

Powerchex's managing director Alexandra Kelly remarked that this was the second year running that an increase in falsehoods had been seen in applications.

"The pressure of the recession on job markets seems to have led more applicants to believe that they should lie or make embellished claims to get jobs," she said, adding that young people had been the hardest hit in the downturn in terms of employment.

Under-21s appeared to register the largest increase in lying to recruiters, having been the most truthful group a year ago.

Researchers from consultancy firm Capital Economics recently warned that unemployment figures could soar by Christmas and would continue to rise throughout 2010 and beyond.

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