Low pay is the top reason applicants turn down jobs, while lack of advancement opportunities is the main reason employees leave jobs, according to a survey of businesses released today by Express Employment Professionals.

Respondents were asked, “What hurdles stop applicants from accepting a job at your company?” Responses included:

• Low pay: 28%
• Lack of advancement/opportunity: 27%
• Long hours: 18%
• Perfect fit: 15%
• Inflexible schedule: 14%

Respondents were also asked, “What hurdles cause employees to leave a job?” The top answer was “lack of advancement/opportunity” at 40%, followed by low pay at 29%. This was almost the reverse of results from the same question in 2015, when 40% said low pay and 33% said lack of advancement. “Not a good cultural fit,” was the third highest answer at 28%, followed by long hours and unlikeable boss/management, both at 18%.

“Pay and advancement really do seem to be the driving factors when applicants and employees make decisions about the future of their careers,” Express CEO Bob Funk said. “In a way, this is reflective of the economy in general. Many companies still struggle to offer competitive wages and may not be growing fast enough to offer upward advancement." “

The survey of 390 businesses, which are current and former clients of Express Employment Professionals, covers hiring trends for the second quarter of 2016.