Unemployment in the United States has improved substantially from the early days of the pandemic and now hovers near historic lows. Still, the U.S. job market remains in uncharted territory as Americans are quitting their jobs in record numbers. And according to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the so-called Great Resignation shows no signs of slowing.
A reported 4.5 million Americans quit their job in November 2021, the most since record keeping began. The new high eclipses the old record of 4.4 million quits in September 2021, which exceeded previous all-time highs set in August, July, and April of the same year.
Broad explanations for the trend include child care demands in the face of school closures, pandemic-related workplace risks or challenges, and a desire for a better job or one with higher pay and more benefits.
Nationwide, the number of American workers who quit their jobs increased by 8.9% between October and November 2021, the most recent month of available data. However, month-over-month change in quits varies considerably by state.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where quits are on the rise. States are ranked by the change in number of people who quit in November 2021 compared to the previous month. In some states, quits surged by over 30% month over month, while in a handful of states, the number of workers who quit actually fell over the same period.
Specific explanations for the high quit rates vary by industry. According to a recent report from consulting firm McKinsey & Company, workers planning to quit in the hospitality and health care sectors cite an unmanageable workload. Meanwhile, those in the transportation, manufacturing, and construction industries point to a lack of professional growth, while workers leaving the education sector often report not feeling supported by colleagues. Here is a look at the industry people are quitting the fastest.
Click here to see the states where quits are on the rise
Click here to see the methodology
50. Texas
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -9.7% (44,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 411,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.5% (11th highest)
> Labor force size: 14,429,974 people
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49. Ohio
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -7.8% (12,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 141,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.4% (22nd highest)
> Labor force size: 5,682,965 people
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48. Colorado
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -7.7% (8,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 96,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.4% (13th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,217,519 people
47. Nevada
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -6.3% (3,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 45,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.4% (3rd highest)
> Labor force size: 1,542,205 people
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46. Washington
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -3.4% (3,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 84,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.6% (20th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,941,030 people
45. Pennsylvania
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -2.1% (3,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 139,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.3% (15th highest)
> Labor force size: 6,222,776 people
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44. Virginia
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: -1.9% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 106,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.7% (20th lowest)
> Labor force size: 4,262,219 people
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43. Hawaii
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: 0.0%
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 16,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.4% (3rd highest)
> Labor force size: 649,967 people
42. Nebraska
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: 0.0%
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 30,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.2% (the lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,026,620 people
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41. South Dakota
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: 0.0%
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 13,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.1% (10th lowest)
> Labor force size: 470,079 people
40. Michigan
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +2.3% (3,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 132,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.2% (16th highest)
> Labor force size: 4,767,091 people
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39. Missouri
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +3.4% (3,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 90,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.6% (19th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,036,287 people
38. Idaho
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +3.7% (1,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 28,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 909,318 people
37. South Carolina
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +3.9% (3,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 79,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.0% (24th lowest)
> Labor force size: 2,385,004 people
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36. California
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +4.8% (19,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 415,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.4% (3rd highest)
> Labor force size: 19,174,527 people
35. Oregon
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +5.4% (3,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 59,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.4% (22nd highest)
> Labor force size: 2,170,491 people
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34. New Jersey
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +6.3% (6,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 102,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.2% (7th highest)
> Labor force size: 4,428,115 people
33. Mississippi
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +7.5% (3,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 43,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.0% (24th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,251,090 people
32. Massachusetts
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +8.5% (7,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 89,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.6% (9th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,745,089 people
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31. Louisiana
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +9.7% (6,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 68,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.1% (17th highest)
> Labor force size: 2,068,808 people
30. Kansas
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +9.8% (4,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 45,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.6% (19th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,496,148 people
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29. Wyoming
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +11.1% (1,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 10,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.4% (14th lowest)
> Labor force size: 291,339 people
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28. Montana
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +11.8% (2,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 19,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 542,991 people
27. Maryland
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +12.3% (8,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 73,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.6% (9th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,129,583 people
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26. Arkansas
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +12.5% (5,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 45,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.2% (13th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,353,114 people
25. Minnesota
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +12.9% (9,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 79,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.2% (13th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,027,052 people
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24. New Mexico
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +13.6% (3,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 25,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.3% (6th highest)
> Labor force size: 958,170 people
23. West Virginia
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +13.6% (3,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 25,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.6% (19th lowest)
> Labor force size: 784,706 people
22. Oklahoma
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +13.7% (7,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 58,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,871,217 people
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21. Arizona
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +14.1% (12,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 97,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.2% (25th highest)
> Labor force size: 3,672,206 people
20. Rhode Island
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +14.3% (2,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 16,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.1% (17th highest)
> Labor force size: 556,597 people
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19. North Carolina
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +15.3% (24,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 181,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.4% (22nd highest)
> Labor force size: 5,066,946 people
18. Florida
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +15.8% (41,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 301,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.6% (20th highest)
> Labor force size: 10,644,641 people
17. Iowa
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +15.8% (6,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 44,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.6% (19th lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,666,277 people
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16. Indiana
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +15.8% (16,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 117,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.1% (10th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,313,444 people
15. Utah
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +17.0% (8,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 55,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.4% (2nd lowest)
> Labor force size: 1,698,570 people
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14. Wisconsin
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +18.3% (15,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 97,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,102,248 people
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13. Alaska
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +20.0% (2,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 12,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.5% (the highest)
> Labor force size: 352,259 people
12. Tennessee
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +20.4% (19,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 112,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.1% (25th lowest)
> Labor force size: 3,325,345 people
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11. Alabama
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +20.6% (13,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 76,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.0% (24th lowest)
> Labor force size: 2,251,091 people
10. New York
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +20.8% (36,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 209,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 5.5% (the highest)
> Labor force size: 9,188,192 people
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9. Illinois
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +23.9% (37,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 192,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.5% (11th highest)
> Labor force size: 6,333,414 people
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8. Maine
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +27.8% (5,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 23,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.4% (13th highest)
> Labor force size: 672,067 people
7. Vermont
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +30.0% (3,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 13,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 1.9% (7th lowest)
> Labor force size: 317,782 people
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6. Delaware
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +30.8% (4,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 17,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.0% (19th highest)
> Labor force size: 490,315 people
5. Georgia
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +33.8% (52,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 206,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.2% (13th lowest)
> Labor force size: 5,191,214 people
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4. Connecticut
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +36.1% (13,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 49,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 4.8% (8th highest)
> Labor force size: 1,850,252 people
3. North Dakota
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +38.5% (5,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 18,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.5% (15th lowest)
> Labor force size: 399,379 people
2. Kentucky
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +38.6% (22,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 79,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 3.0% (24th lowest)
> Labor force size: 2,014,555 people
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1. New Hampshire
> Change in quits, Oct.-Nov. 2021: +66.7% (12,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Nov. 2021: 30,000
> Nov 2021 unemployment: 2.1% (10th lowest)
> Labor force size: 741,833 people
Methodology:
To determine the states where quits are on the rise, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. States are ranked by the change in number of people who quit in November 2021 compared to the previous month. Quits are defined as voluntary departures from an employer and do not include those entering retirement.
Figures on unemployment and labor force size, which includes Americans either working or actively looking for work, are also from the BLS.
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