Why Psychometric Testing is a Game-Changer for Recruitment

When it comes to hiring the right person for the role and organisation, making data-driven decisions is critical. Research consistently shows that psychometric testing for recruitment provides objective, predictive insights into a candidate’s potential for success. A recent National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) study further reinforces this, revealing that companies using psychometric assessments make better hiring decisions and experience lower turnover rates.



Key Findings from the NBER Study

The study examined 15 companies hiring entry-level service sector employees and involved a massive 300,000 hires and 555 hiring managers. It assessed candidates based on cognitive ability, personality traits, and technical skills, offering a comprehensive view of each applicant’s strengths.

🔹 Employees hired with psychometric testing stayed 15% longer in their roles compared to those hired without testing.
🔹 The further hiring managers deviated from test recommendations, the worse their hiring decisions became.
🔹 The data showed that psychometric assessments were more accurate at identifying strong candidates than hiring managers relying solely on intuition.

Why This Study Matters

This research carries significant weight due to its prestigious backing. The NBER is the largest economics research organisation in the U.S., with 22 Nobel Prize winners among its members. Researchers from Harvard, Yale, and the University of Toronto contributed to the study, adding further credibility.

Psychometric Testing vs. Traditional Hiring Methods

The findings of this study align with past research, including the influential meta-analysis by Hunter and Schmidt, which demonstrated that cognitive aptitude tests are stronger predictors of job performance than interviews, work experience, and education level.

Hiring managers often rely on gut instinct, but research proves that human bias impacts hiring decisions. While interviews and resumes can provide valuable information, they are inherently subjective. Psychometric testing offers a structured, data-driven approach to hiring that reduces bias and enhances decision-making.

Balancing Intuition with Data

While psychometric testing for recruitment is a powerful tool, it should not replace human judgment entirely. Instead, it should be a key component of a comprehensive hiring strategy that also includes structured interviews, skills assessments, and cultural fit evaluations.

The Bottom Line: Why Businesses Should Use Psychometric Testing

Incorporating psychometric assessments into your hiring process can lead to:
✅ Stronger, data-backed hiring decisions
✅ Reduced employee turnover
✅ More accurate candidate evaluations
✅ Lower hiring biases and improved workplace diversity

With research confirming its effectiveness, psychometric testing for recruitment is an essential strategy for companies looking to build high-performing teams.

Fermion specialises in psychometric testing for recruitment. Please contact Fermion to discuss how the Typing and/or Data Entry tests, or any other psychometric test, can help with you your recruitment decisions.

About the Author:

Christopher Apps is an Organisational Psychologist and the owner of Fermion. He stays updated on the latest psychology research and shares evidence-based insights. The focus of Fermion is "Psychometric Testing for Recruitment" and “Recruitment to Retention: How to Select Good Staff & Keep Them”. If you would like to learn how to select good staff and keep them, please feel free to contact us at Fermion.

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