U.S. News: Where U.S. Workers Are Quitting at Record Rates

"Workers in the U.S. resigned from a record 4.4 million jobs in September. Many Americans are leaving roles for better working conditions and pay amid a historically fast economic recovery.

The wave of resignations hasn't been uniform across the country. States in the West, including Montana, Utah and Oregon, saw the largest growth in quits in September, according to the Labor Department. Eighteen states broke or tied their records for quits levels in September.

Industries experiencing high turnover rates drove quits in the West in September and led many Northeastern states to see a more rapid increase in quits since the start of this year. Quits in the education sector -- which accounts for a larger share of employment in Northeastern states than many others -- have risen at the fastest pace of any industry since January.

Reopening timelines and vaccination rates have also helped spur employer demand for workers in the Northeast this year.

Job openings have increased at the fastest rate in the Northeast since January, after the region's labor market struggled throughout 2020. The New York region was among the first in the U.S. to be hit hard by the pandemic, and leaders in Northeastern states imposed strict business restrictions and left them in place longer than many other areas. Many Northeastern states fully reopened their economies this summer and saw relatively high rates of vaccinations -- factors that converged to spur robust employer demand for workers.

As job openings increased, quitting became a more attractive option for workers in the Northeast. Some states in the region -- including New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island -- have seen among the fastest growth in quits in the U.S. since January.

High quits rates in a given region don't always indicate a fast labor-market recovery is under way there, though. "The great resignation . . . is not just about having a lot of job openings out there," said Sinem Buber, economist at jobs site ZipRecruiter.

For instance, quits surged in Hawaii this year, though job openings remained depressed. Layoffs in Hawaii rose recently as the state discouraged tourists from visiting during a rise in Delta-virus cases. More people could be quitting their jobs in Hawaii and taking some time off work as the pandemic persists, or leaving the state.

 

Since January, quits have increased the most of any industry in educational services, which includes teachers, janitors and guidance counselors.

 

Fast-rising quits add to evidence that the labor market is historically tight. Employers are struggling to find workers. There are about 10 job openings for every seven job seekers." [1]

 

1. U.S. News: Where U.S. Workers Are Quitting at Record Rates
Mollica, Andrew; Sarah Chaney Cambon.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 26 Nov 2021: A.2.