New Survey: Why Don't Job Applicants Accept Offers?

Express Survey Also Reveals Why Employees Leave Jobs

Pay and Advancement Top the Lists


TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 12, 2017) - Express Employment Professionals today released new survey results revealing the reasons applicants do not accept jobs and the reasons employees leave their jobs.

In a survey of 1,951 businesses, respondents were asked, "What hurdles stop applicants from accepting a job at your company?" They were also asked, "What hurdles cause employees to leave a job?"

Thirty percent (30%) said "low pay" stops applicants from accepting a job, making it the most popular response. Thirteen percent (13%) said "lack of advancement/opportunity," and another 13% said "lack of transportation."

"Lack of advancement/opportunity" was the most popular response for why employees leave a job, at 34%, followed by "low pay" (30%) and "not a good cultural fit" (27%).

Even though respondents were asked to select all reasons that applied, a majority of respondents chose "none," indicating the diversity of reasons at play.

To view the graphic associated with this release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/express_employment_professionals_april12_fig01.pdf

Full results are below.

"It's clear that pay and advancement remain top motivators for job seekers," said Bob Funk, CEO of Express. "Still, there is a wide range of factors to which employers must be sensitive. As the labor market tightens, businesses must be even more aware of what may prevent them from making a good hire. They also should take care to be aware of what may drive away good employees currently on the payroll. Proactively responding to these hurdles is key to maintaining a talented, stable team."

What hurdles stop applicants from accepting a job at your company? (Please check all that apply.) Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q2 2016
Low pay 30% 27% 33% 28%
Other 29% 32% 28% 23%
Lack of advancement/opportunity 13% 20% 17% 27%
Lack of transportation 13% 13% 15% 12%
Inflexible schedule 12% 11% 17% 14%
Lack of company benefits 12% 10% - -
Long hours 11% 12% 10% 18%
Perfect fit 10% 11% 9% 15%
Would lose government benefits 8% 6% - -
No child care available 6% 5% 9% 3%
Would lose disability benefits 3% 0% 2% 1%
What hurdles cause employees to leave a job? (Please check all that apply.) Q1 2017 Q4 2016 Q3 2016 Q2 2016
Lack of advancement/opportunity 34% 35% 28% 40%
Low pay 30% 27% 27% 29%
Not a good cultural fit 27% 26% 33% 28%
Other 25% 27% 22% 22%
Unlikeable boss/management 17% 16% 22% 18%
Difficult schedule 17% 16% 17% 16%
Long hours 14% 16% 14% 18%
Lack of transportation 9% 10% 14% 10%
Unlikeable co-workers 8% 7% 11% 8%
No child care available 4% 3% 8% 5%

The survey of 1,951 businesses, which are current and former clients of Express Employment Professionals, covers hiring trends for the first quarter of 2017. Previous surveys were conducted to cover job insights of the quarters indicated.

If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bob Funk to discuss this topic, please contact Kellie Major at (613) 222-7488.

About Robert A. Funk

Robert A. "Bob" Funk is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Under his leadership, Express has put more than 6 million people to work worldwide. Funk served as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and was also the Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen of the Federal Reserve.

About Express Employment Professionals and Express in Canada

Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $3.05 billion in sales and employed nearly 510,000 people in 2016. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. Express launched in Canada in July 1996, with a franchise in London, Ontario, and since then, has expanded and grown across Canada significantly. There are currently 37 Express franchises in Canada – six in British Columbia, five in Alberta, two in Saskatchewan, 23 in Ontario and one in Nova Scotia.

Contact Information:

Media Contacts:
Kellie Major
613.222.7488
kellie@mapleleafstrategies.com

Sheena Karami
405.717.5966
sheena.karami@expresspros.com

@ExpressPros
#CanadaEmployed
www.ExpressPros.com/CanadaEmployed