More than a third of CVs submitted by applicants for jobs in the professional services sector have inaccuracies, a CV screening business says.

Research by First Advantage looked at applications by candidates going for jobs in Europe, the Middles East and Africa between January 2011 and June 2014.

It found discrepancies between stated achievements and real achievements in 37.9% of CVs submitted to professional services businesses, higher than any other sector and well above the 27.2% average.

Checks on technology company candidates turned up wrongful information in 37.1% of cases. The same was found in 37% of legal sector applications, 35.7% in staffing and recruitment and 23% in financial services.

Traci Canning, managing director of First Advantage in EMEA, said: “The high proportion of checks uncovering discrepancies in the professional services sector is obviously concerning.

“Based on our findings, there appears to be a link between prevalence of screening and lower discrepancy rates, as illustrated by the comparatively low discrepancy rates in the financial services sector where screening is routine.”