Can employers refuse employment based on background checks?

Yes. If they find you have a record for Theft ( they Wouldn't want you working in a Bank-Now would They ?)

I think if a candidate is sketchy then they would refuse you. Some jobs require a clean background check for the work you do though.

Yes, they can. The employer that I work for not only did a background check, but a credit check, and they can refuse to hire for either. Just be sure to be honest on your application. I know someone that lost a very good job that way - it took a while, but the employer eventually found out. At least if you are honest, you have a chance to maybe explain the situation up front.

Of course. That is the whole point of backround checks.
To determine if the applicant will be a good fit for the job
and the people there.

Of course they can. If they couldn't, why would they waste money running them?

Yes

of course they can. A private employer can refuse employment, can refuse to do business with you, for just about any reason they choose, just as you can decide with whom you wish to do business for whatever reason you choose. You can decide to shop at one store to the exclusion of all other stores if you wish, and that store can decide to hire one person, to the exclusion of all others, for any of the same reasons.

Yes it is done everyday

Yes they can! That's what they are for.

Yes they can and do. Some companies even look at your credit history.

Yes, but only if you sign a waiver giving them permission to check your credit reports, medical reports, background.

Certainly for government jobs or law enforcement, they need reliable and honest people working for them.

They can refuse employment, and they do refuse employment. Employers can refuse employment based on a less-than-stellar credit history.

Yep welcome to 21 century and computers and data bases

Of course! They can also refuse employment based on your refusal to submit to a background check. What a lot of people don't realize is, how important it is to be honest about their background. If you have a criminal background, you might get hired anyway (depending on circumstances of your crime, subsequent history, and nature of the job). But if you have a criminal background and you lie about it, then you're definitely out of a job.