Drug test to get a job? Private no, government yes

We have record-low unemployment and requests for help are everywhere from the CIA to the local bodega. Employers are discussing how they can do the same (or more) with fewer employees. And with it, the norms of hiring have changed as well. The proportion of jobs that require a pre-employment drug test is now less than 2%. In fact, only one city in America has a percentage of jobs greater than 2.4%. In Arlington, TX, nearly 7% of available jobs require a pre-employment drug test. New York City had the lowest percentage of jobs in the nation that required a pre-employment drug test.

Photo by Matthew Henry via Burst

RELATED: Afraid of having to return to the office? Marijuana or CBD might help

The most common drug test is the urine test. These tests indicate whether one or more prescription or illegal drugs are present. They test for the presence of drugs such as marijuana, ethanol, cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine, amphetamines, PCP, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, tricyclic antidepressants, ecstasy, and oxycodone.

According to Scott Rabinowitz, partner at national search firm Herd Freed Hartz, “Drug testing as part of the executive hiring process, particularly for cannabis, is no longer standard in the private sector, particularly in states where cannabis is legal.” In 25 years of experience in the When searching for executives in various industries, I have only come across one private company that relied on THC testing to make their hiring decisions.”

While some jobs like pilots, surgeons, dentists, nurses, doctors, school bus drivers, etc. require concentration and a clear head from the applicant, others have a more relaxed outlook. It is estimated that a third of technicians use cannabis.

Photo by Cappi Thompson/Getty Images

But one big, if not the biggest, employer, the government, is still trying to find the solution. Some states still require testing before receiving the job. HERE is the list of states and their policies. The federal government continues to require testing, but is slowly changing its approach. When hiring an individual for a position with the federal government, there is a strong emphasis on extensive screening and background checks. This includes a thorough drug test to ensure the prospective candidate is not in violation of drug laws.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Defense (DoD) require the federal government to provide pre-employment drug testing. These agencies place the highest demands on their employees, and pre-employment drug testing is mandatory for all government employees. But both have adjusted their policies. The Air Force and Space Force have also made changes to allow prospective collaborators a wider net.

RELATED: Air Force and Space Force Adopt Recruits Who Used Marijuana

The DOT also adjusted its policies for cargo drivers once they were hired. While they still do random drug testing (for good reason on those big cars on the freeway), the tests are more like alcohol testing and only take 24 to 80 hours.