Unemployed US adults seeking work report lack of experience as the main obstacle preventing them from finding a job, according to the results of an American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor survey. The survey found 40% of unemployed US adults (excluding retirees) are currently looking for work.

The top five obstacles for unemployed adults looking for work are the following:

• Not enough job experience: 33%
• Gaps in work history: 22%
• Not enough education: 21%
• No jobs in their city/town: 21%
• Too old: 21%

Unemployed job seekers also reported that training is critical to their ability to re-enter the workforce. Four in five, 82%, agreed training would increase their chances of receiving job offers, and 88% would be willing to work in a new field if training were provided.

“US employers are grappling with workforce supply issues because of a shrinking labor pool and skills gaps,” said ASA President and CEO Richard Wahlquist. “Companies can — and should — tap into this large and growing segment of the population by investing in training to help fill the millions of job openings in the US.”

The report also found 42% of unemployed job seekers have declined a job offer. Reasons include:

• Pay was not enough: 43%
• Too far away from home: 40%
• Not a good fit: 38%

Harris Poll conducted the survey online within the US on behalf of ASA. It was conducted from Aug. 14 to Aug 24, 2015, among a 1,000 unemployed US adults, of whom 519 identified as looking for work and 118 identified as not looking for work.