Could bad credit keep you out of a job?

It's tough going for many unemployed Americans these days. One factor that makes it all the more distressing is that employers can use your credit report -- even if it's been decimated by prolonged joblessness -- in their hiring decisions. USA Todayreports a distressing 13% of companies use credit evaluations as part of their criteria for deciding who to hire, and half take your credit into account for certain high-security or money-management-related jobs.

While some states are looking to crack down on this practice -- Washington, Hawaii and Oregon have regulations in place -- there's not a lot of protection out there for consumers today. It's legal for a would-be employer to use your credit report as an evaluative tool in deciding whether or not to hire you, Adam Levin, chairman and co-founder of Credit.com, tells WalletPop.