The latest data on relocation rates released by consultancy firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, reveals that the number of job candidates in the US who relocate for employment is on the decline.

The global outplacement consultancy firm’s data shows that on average, only 11% of new hires in each quarter of 2015 moved for their new position. This number is down from an average of 15% during the final two quarters of 2014.

HR experts are attributing this decrease in relocation to an increase in economic improvement, specifically at the local level. This would eliminate the need for most people to relocate for a job. Overall, unemployment rate in the US is one of the lowest it has ever been.

John A Challenger, Chief Executive Officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas said

Relocation activity plunged after the first half of 2009 as home values continued to decline, which made it virtually impossible to sell an existing home without taking a significant loss. The housing market improved in enough places by the second half of 2014 to, once again, make relocation a feasible possibility for more people when conducting a job search.

There is more to this data than simply less relocation, however. The trade group for the relocation services industry, Worldwide ERC, projects that the United States transfer volume results for 2015 will show an increased new-hire relocation when compared to previous years.

Human resource experts also point out that the growth in temporary assignment positions could be another reason for the decline in relocations. US companies are offering more temporary employment opportunities for workers, because it is often a less expensive option for the company.