Based on recently released 2025 reports, a specific percentage of US companies that drug test is not available, but recent survey data provides a breakdown of testing practices by companies and industries. The number of employers who drug test is declining overall, even as positivity rates for drugs like marijuana continue to climb.
Overall drug testing trends
A 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics survey found that 16.1% of private-sector employers reported testing their employees for drugs in 2021, a notable decrease from 30% in 1996. However, drug screening remains very common, and the number of employers testing for drugs varies greatly by industry. For example, a 2022 survey found that 76% of drug testing was done by small employers (under 500 employees), with only 7% coming from very large companies (over 10,000 employees).
Testing by type in 2025
Recent reports show how
employers conduct different types of drug tests. For example, among
manufacturing companies, testing practices vary widely:
- Pre-employment screening: 81% of
manufacturing companies conducted pre-employment drug testing.
- Post-accident testing: 58% of
manufacturing companies performed post-accident testing.
- Random testing: 28% of manufacturing companies used random drug testing.
A 2025 report from Quest Diagnostics, an industry leader, also
indicates a high rate of suspicion-based testing:
- For-cause testing: In 2024, 33.1% of tests conducted when employers had reasonable suspicion of substance use were positive.
Industry and policy variations
Legalized marijuana and
varying state laws have led to a patchwork of workplace drug-testing
policies.
- Industries most likely to
test: Safety-sensitive industries such as transportation, healthcare,
construction, and manufacturing continue to have high rates of drug
testing, with some required by federal law.
- Industries less likely to test: In industries with less safety risk, especially in states with legalized marijuana, some employers have dropped marijuana from pre-employment screenings.
Positivity rates and test
tampering
According to a 2025 analysis
of 8 million drug tests by Quest Diagnostics, overall workplace drug
positivity was 4.4% in 2024, a slight decrease from 4.6% in 2023. However, the
report noted a concerning increase in fentanyl positivity in random drug tests
compared to pre-employment screenings.
A 2024 Quest
Diagnostics report also highlighted a surge in test cheating during 2023,
with the percentage of tampered tests rising over 600% compared to 2022.
Because testing practices and frequency depend heavily on industry and location, it's difficult to cite a single percentage for all US companies. However, available data indicates that while drug testing is prevalent, especially in certain sectors, its overall adoption may be declining.
Information regarding the percentage of US companies that drug test in 2025 varies depending on factors such as testing type and industry.
Recent data from Quest
Diagnostics indicates specific trends in workforce drug testing positivity
rates for 2024 compared to 2023:
- For-cause testing showed a 33.1%
positivity rate in 2024, a decrease from 39.4% in 2023.
- Post-accident testing had a 10.2%
positivity rate in 2024, a slight drop from 10.4% in 2023.
- Return-to-duty testing declined from 8.4% to 7.9%.
Certain industries have
mandatory testing requirements:
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) maintains a random drug testing rate of 50% for
2025.
- The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) increased its random drug testing rate to 50% for 2025 after its positive random drug test rate exceeded 1% in 2023.
In the manufacturing sector,
94% of companies have drug policies. Among these, implementation varies: 81%
conduct pre-employment screening, 58% perform post-accident testing, and 28%
use random drug testing.
The legalization of marijuana in various states is impacting drug testing practices. Many businesses continue to test for marijuana due to industry standards, federal regulations, and safety concerns. However, some employers, especially in states where marijuana is fully legal, have stopped testing for it. Industries with federal oversight or safety-sensitive positions often maintain strict testing protocols, including for marijuana.
Overall, some employers have stopped drug testing, with 15% discontinuing pre-employment testing. A 2022 survey indicated that 87% of employers conducted pre-employment testing and 70% performed post-accident testing. The overall positivity rate for US workforce drug tests remains above the 10-year average.
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+percent+of+us+companies+drug+test+in+2025
Comments
Drug testing is down since 2022, but should be increased back to 2022 levels.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
No comments:
Post a Comment