SAVANNAH, Ga. — Several years ago at a job fair for a heavy-equipment maker, more than half of the potential workers opted to leave rather than submit to a drug test, one of the steps to employment with the company. Unfortunately, that story isn’t unusual these days, as more prospective employees either can’t pass a drug test or refuse to take one, MSN.com reports.

Many large companies require drug tests and some industries have a mandate by the federal government to test for illegal drugs. Lately, though, drug use is on the rise and that has complicated hiring. “They were complaining about trying to find drivers, or finding people, who are drug-free and can do some of the jobs that they have,” said Ray Gaster, a lumberyard owner, about conversations with other retailers.

While drug use at work isn’t new—think 1980s excess—“We’ve seen it edging back up some,” said Calvina L. Fay, executive director of the Drug Free America Foundation.

Hard numbers are difficult to come by, given that some applicants merely opt to skip drug testing, but Quest Diagnostics reports that in 2014, the percentage of Americans testing positive for illegal drugs rose to 4.7% from 4.3% in 2013, which was the first year in 10 to register an upswing.

A 2012 NACS Magazine article explores how legalizing marijuana for medical reasons has led to complications for zero-drug policies in “Legalize it?”