Employment test usage as a predictor of gross domestic product

The relationship between the usage of employment tests—particularly ability tests-and job performance criteria has been extensively studied. The usage of testing was reported to have declined after the landmark personnel selection caseGriggs (1971). Models of selection utility were reviewed, and an ecological systems theory of test incidence and the American economy was developed. For both ability tests and non-personality employment tests, a positive relationship was hypothesized between the historical incidence of firms using tests and American Gross Domestic Product. Using historical survey and economic data, results were consistent with the hypothesis involving ability testing incidence.The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.