diff --git a/src/NetscriptFunctions/Corporation.ts b/src/NetscriptFunctions/Corporation.ts
index 7ed573794..5b11d7f93 100644
--- a/src/NetscriptFunctions/Corporation.ts
+++ b/src/NetscriptFunctions/Corporation.ts
@@ -616,10 +616,13 @@ export function NetscriptCorporation(): InternalAPI<NSCorporation> {
         );
 
       const office = getOffice(divisionName, cityName);
-      if (office.employeeJobs[EmployeePositions.Unassigned] < amount)
+
+      const totalNewEmployees = amount - office.employeeNextJobs[job];
+
+      if (office.employeeNextJobs[EmployeePositions.Unassigned] < totalNewEmployees)
         throw helpers.makeRuntimeErrorMsg(
           ctx,
-          `Tried to assign more Employees to '${job}' than are unassigned. Amount:'${amount}'`,
+          `Unable to bring '${job} employees to ${amount}. Requires ${totalNewEmployees} unassigned employees`,
         );
       return AutoAssignJob(office, job, amount);
     },