Workforce expansion is a priority for many companies throughout 2015, yet employers are struggling to recruit the best talent, according to the 2015 first half edition of the MRINetwork Recruiter Sentiment Study.

The survey found 90% of respondents defined the talent market for the executive, managerial and professional sector as candidate-driven, up from 80% in the same survey one year ago and 56% in the first half of 2012. Only 10% said the market is employer-driven.

Key findings from the MRINetwork survey include:

• The overall sentiment that the labor market is candidate-driven has been on a continuous uptick since 2011, however this feeling has increased significantly since the second half of 2014. Ninety percent of our recruiters now feel the labor market is candidate-driven, representing a seven percentage point increase.
• Rejected job offers continue to rise, primarily because candidates are accepting other job opportunities. This demonstrates that despite being committed to hiring, employers are still losing top performers to lengthy hiring practices, below-market salaries and an inability to sell the company, the role and advancement opportunities.
• Wage increases have been a big concern in 2015. Consequently, offering a low salary is the primary obstacle to hiring. With several options at their disposal, top performers are no longer willing to consider a job move, unless the compensation is highly competitive.
• Employer branding remains a growing hiring tool as companies face increased pressure, both internally and externally, to sell their value proposition to employees and candidates. Organizations must be able to clearly articulate how they will benefit the candidate’s career.

The web-based survey included 347 recruiters and was conducted between June 2 and 10, 2015.