Candidates turn down more job offers now than they did one year ago, according to a survey by Express Employment Professionals.

Forty percent of respondents said applicants choose not to accept a job offer because the company was “not the perfect fit.” Low pay was a factor for 28%, while 16% said both “lack of transportation” and “lack of advancement” were key factors.

“Employers may be frustrated now, but as long as the economy stays on its course, they will continue to see applicants turn down job offers, believing they can easily find ‘something better,’” Express CEO Bill Stoller said. “What once may have seemed like an enticing offer may now appear average, so employers should not be afraid to rethink their practices. It’s a job seeker’s market, and they [employers] have to adapt.”

“If you really like a candidate, don’t try to see what you can get them for,” said Daniel Morgan, an Express Employment Professionals franchise owner in Birmingham, Ala. “Go ahead and commit by offering your best from the start. Employees are not just considering one opportunity. They are usually comparing two or three opportunities against each other.”

The survey of 439 businesses, which are current and former clients of Express Employment Professionals, was conducted in May 2018 to gauge respondents' expectations for the third quarter of 2018.