There could be a whole number of reasons, such as lack of a direct link to bad experiences with existing or previous employees.
You just have to take a look at the operators social media pages to see regular and experienced commuters have with public transport and being late.

In different parts of the country, people commute for miles on public transport.

There is a link on the forum elsewhere, relating to a study Nexus did on the lack of public transport to/from major employment hubs. They based some of the initial Bus Strategy routes around the feedback they received from employers and employees.
One suggestion was to pump prime a service from Washington to Sunderland Business Park.
We eventually saw the 8 diverted that way

Another, was the lack of a direct service between Washington and Team Valley. Outside of peaks, passengers need two buses and pay for the privilege.

South Tyneside to Cobalt was another one.

I don't think the infrastructure or current network in the region does itself any favours with regard to commuting at all.