Forty-four percent of prospective job candidates reported they received multiple job offers in their most recent hiring process, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc. This is down from 51% in 1Q24 and 72% in 1Q23.
The 1Q25 Gartner survey of nearly 3,000 candidates conducted from January through March 2025 revealed that 35% of candidates backed out after accepting a job offer in 1Q25, compared to 48% of candidates who reneged after accepting a job offer in 1Q24.
“We are seeing signs of a softening labor market, with fewer candidates getting multiple offers or backing out after accepting a job,” said Caroline Ogawa, Director, Research in the Gartner HR practice. “Even with candidates seeing less opportunity in the market, organizations are still struggling to attract talent, as candidates get more selective about the jobs they pursue.”
Competition in the Labor Market Likely to Increase
A Gartner survey of more than 100 HR leaders conducted in April 2025 found that nearly two-thirds of U.S. private sector HR leaders (61%) anticipate increased talent competition due to the U.S. administration’s tariff policies, particularly for front-line talent.
“As organizations continue to navigate through the unpredictable business environment, HR leaders must challenge assumptions about how labor market competitiveness tracks with economic cycles and pay close attention to actual candidate behavior,” said Dion Love, Vice President, Advisory in the Gartner HR Practice.
Candidates are Prioritizing Compensation and Career Growth
The 1Q25 Gartner survey revealed that 53% of respondents cited higher compensation as their main decision driver when accepting an offer, up 11 points from 1Q24.followed closely by 47% who cited more opportunities for career growth.
“When candidates do accept a new offer, they are prioritizing compensation and career growth. Organizations need to show they can help candidates get ahead, with either an impressive salary increase or career opportunities,” said Ogawa.
When evaluating employment offers, candidates are also considering work-life balance (45%), better working conditions (39%), and opportunities to learn new skills (39%). These factors are more commonly prioritized over total rewards offerings, including better healthcare (22%), PTO (10%), and parental leave (6%).