As job seekers search for jobs, candidates say one factor has become more important: commuting availability. Depending on the person, the offer may go through or fall through.
Monster Careers expert Vicki Salemi says that despite the tight job market, workers are becoming more aware of how long commutes affect their health and wallets.
A Monster Research Institute report found that 49% of job offers have turned down at least one job offer during their career because the commute was too long or too expensive, and rising gas prices have influenced 65% of candidates to narrow down their job search. The survey, conducted by Pole Fish in July 2026, asked 1,005 working adults in the United States to answer multiple-choice questions about the impact of commuting and rising costs of living on their job search. Results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
“Job seekers are savvy and look at the complete package of a job offer, including commute time and travel costs. They don’t just look at the salary to decide whether to take the job,” Salemi explains.
“Employees and job seekers are really prioritizing not just their health, but their work-life balance,” Salemi says.
Kaiya Abdul, 33, was spending more than eight hours a day on the road before landing a series of fully remote roles. The 22-year-old master’s student said she woke up at 4 a.m., drove three hours to her biotech job, drove another three hours to class, then drove 45 minutes home. She said the long commutes, heavy traffic and Los Angeles heat took a toll on her health.
After three months on the job, Abdul says he almost got into two accidents in the same week because he fell asleep at the wheel. At that time, she made the decision to terminate her contract.
Abdul, a regulatory expert and law school student, hasn’t commuted to work in seven years. “If there was a prerequisite that I had to commute somewhere, I would automatically say no,” Abdul told CNBC Make It about his job search so far.
she is not alone. According to Monster’s report, for 30% of candidates, there are no incentives, such as higher pay or commuting benefits, to make a less favorable commute.
Eva Bedell, 25, took a “very significant” pay cut in 2025 for a job 10 minutes from her home. Her yoga studio required a 30-minute drive on the interstate, which she said made her feel disconnected from home.
“I want to be involved in my home community, and when I have to go a full 30 minutes away on the freeway, it’s like I’m in a completely different community now,” she says.
Bedell said gas prices also influenced his decision to quit smoking. Among job seekers, 65% say rising gas prices have changed what they’re looking for, and 23% say rising gas prices are making them look closer to home. Bedell said he typically spent about $200 to $300 a month on gas alone. Although her pay is lower, her new job means she spends about $100 less a month to get to work.
Like Bedell, about 70% of employees work alone in their cars, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. According to AAA, the national average gas price as of Sept. 23 was $4.47, 41% higher than the $3.17 average a year ago.
“Job hunting is definitely changing due to gas prices,” Salemi said.
Commuting time is also gradually increasing. According to the most recently available data from the U.S. Census, the average commute time in 2024 was 27.2 minutes, an increase from the 2023 average of 26.8 minutes.
Bedell started a new job at a nonprofit in Nashville in March 2026 that offered better pay, benefits, and a shorter commute. “Everyone really, really cares about each other,” she says of her new workplace. “They want everyone to really protect their mental health. That’s a really big part of why I love this job so much.”
For Abdul, working remotely means being able to pursue a hybrid law school degree at the same time. “I use everything I learned in class to contribute to becoming a better regulatory professional in the workplace I find myself in, which can only benefit the organization.”
Salemi said commuting concerns could be an opportunity for employers and candidates to “think outside the box” and make mid-term decisions about final offers and benefits.
“Some companies may already be offering scholarships and benefits to help reduce or offset some of the commuting costs,” Salemi says. “But if that’s not the case, it’s definitely something job seekers can negotiate.”
With commute costs showing no signs of slowing down, lawmakers are trying to cut costs for in-person workers. Reps. Laura Gillen, N.Y., Jeff Van Drew, RN.J. and Tom Keene Jr., RN.J. on Monday introduced a bill, the Lower Commuting Costs Act, that would target individual commuting costs, including gas, public transportation, and tolls. If passed, commuters would receive up to $4,080 in annual federal income tax breaks, according to the proposed bill.
Both Abdul and Bedell say that while they love their jobs, they now have more time to enjoy life outside of work.
“I love my job. I love working for a regulatory agency. I love helping patients,” Abdul says. “I’m not going to drive three hours and die. I’m not going to risk my mental health or anything by working in a toxic work environment.”
This article has been updated to reflect that Eva Bedell took a pay cut for a job closer to home. A previous version misspelled her name.
