Does Employment Show Up on a Credit Report?

A consumer's credit report contains more information than credit account listings. The FCRA -- Fair Credit Reporting Act -- allows credit reporting agencies the rights to obtain and sell additional information on each consumer. Employment, public records and spousal information routinely show up on a credit report. Credit reporting agencies have a responsibility to provide each consumer with one free credit report each year, upon request by the consumer.

Employment Records

Your credit report likely contains employment records from past and present employers. Employment information is used to help identify you, in combination with your name, address, birth date and Social Security number. Credit reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion -- update employment information based on information that you provide to potential lenders. Potential and existing employers typically examine your credit report before hiring or offering a promotion. Employment information listed within a credit report can support the information an applicant lists on an employment application. It can also help highlight inconsistencies.

Employment Reporting Consequences

If you are denied employment based on information contained in your credit report, you have the right to request a free copy of the report. Reporting agencies must supply the free report if you request it within 60 days of being denied employment. In addition, reporting agencies must maintain and provide you with a two-year history of every potential employer inquiry, according to the FCRA. This varies from the typical one-year history that agencies must maintain on everyone who requested your report for other purposes.

Corrections

Consumers should routinely check the information within their credit report for accuracy. This includes dates and places of employment, as well as other identifying information, along with credit account payment information. The FCRA gives consumers the right to correct any inaccuracies in their credit report by filing a dispute directly with the credit reporting agency. Each agency provides an online dispute method, in addition to the traditional postal method. Either way, disputes must be in writing.

Other Information

In addition to employment records and credit account information, credit reporting agencies compile and maintain a list of public information. Civil records -- judgments and lawsuits -- and criminal records -- arrests and imprisonment -- are also available to potential lenders, employers and insurance agencies who purchase an individual's credit report.