In what has been dubbed the Great Resignation, Americans have been quitting their jobs in record numbers in recent months – a trend that shows few signs of slowing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some 4.4 million Americans quit their job in February 2021, up slightly from 4.3 million quits the previous month and down only slightly from the all-time high of 4.5 million quits in November 2021. wi
Explanations for the high quit rates are varied. Survey data reveals unmanageable workloads, unsupportive colleagues, and lack of professional development to be among the most common reasons people give for quitting. Often, however, the reasons are as simple as a desire for higher pay or more benefits. This is the industry people are quitting the fastest.
While many states reported either no change in quits or a slight decline month over month, in most of the country, quits are on the rise.
Using data from the BLS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where quits are rising fastest. States are ranked by the change in number of people who quit in February 2022, the most recent month of available data, compared to the number of quits in January 2022.
It is important to note that even in states where quits fell in February, quit rates – the number of quits as a share of the total labor force – remained historically high. In nearly every state, the number of people who quit their job in February is higher than the number who quit their job in February of last year.
Generally, states with lower quit rates tend to have higher than average unemployment. Since quits do not include workers who retire, each of the 4.4 million Americans who quit in February presumably plans to take another job. A weaker job market, therefore, may act as a deterrent to those who consider quitting in some parts of the country, while a stronger job market may encourage some workers. Here is a look at the worst states to look for a job.
Click here to see the states where quits were on the rise
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Maryland
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -15.1% (11,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 62,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> Labor force size: 3,194,561 people
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49. Michigan
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -14.2% (20,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 121,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.7%
> Labor force size: 4,804,242 people
48. Virginia
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -13.7% (16,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 101,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 4,292,097 people
47. Delaware
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -13.3% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 13,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> Labor force size: 498,219 people
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46. Arizona
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -12.5% (14,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 98,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> Labor force size: 3,543,498 people
45. Alabama
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -10.1% (7,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 62,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> Labor force size: 2,260,562 people
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44. Pennsylvania
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -9.6% (13,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 122,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 5.1%
> Labor force size: 6,370,062 people
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43. Tennessee
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -8.6% (10,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 106,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> Labor force size: 3,356,786 people
42. West Virginia
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -8.3% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 22,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.9%
> Labor force size: 793,816 people
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41. New Mexico
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -8.0% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 23,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 5.6%
> Labor force size: 947,443 people
40. South Dakota
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -7.7% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 12,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.6%
> Labor force size: 471,304 people
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39. North Dakota
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -7.1% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 13,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> Labor force size: 409,405 people
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38. South Carolina
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -6.6% (5,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 71,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> Labor force size: 2,378,347 people
37. Louisiana
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -6.6% (4,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 57,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> Labor force size: 2,078,228 people
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36. Maine
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -6.3% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 15,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.0%
> Labor force size: 680,015 people
35. Hawaii
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -5.3% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 18,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> Labor force size: 672,596 people
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34. Mississippi
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -4.7% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 41,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.5%
> Labor force size: 1,255,930 people
33. Idaho
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -3.6% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 27,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> Labor force size: 927,196 people
32. Texas
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -2.9% (12,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 400,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.7%
> Labor force size: 14,373,632 people
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31. Colorado
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: -2.1% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 95,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.0%
> Labor force size: 3,199,344 people
30. New Jersey
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: 0%
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 101,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> Labor force size: 4,622,687 people
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29. Oregon
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: 0%
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 58,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.0%
> Labor force size: 2,174,003 people
28. Utah
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: 0%
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 49,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.1%
> Labor force size: 1,697,136 people
27. Nebraska
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: 0%
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 31,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.1%
> Labor force size: 1,057,000 people
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26. Georgia
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +1.1% (2,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 177,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> Labor force size: 5,234,632 people
25. Washington
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +1.2% (1,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 87,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> Labor force size: 3,981,799 people
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24. Kentucky
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +1.5% (1,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 66,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> Labor force size: 2,056,085 people
23. Connecticut
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +2.7% (1,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 38,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.9%
> Labor force size: 1,869,116 people
22. Indiana
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +3.8% (4,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 109,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> Labor force size: 3,315,935 people
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21. Iowa
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +4.8% (2,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 44,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> Labor force size: 1,686,648 people
20. California
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +5.1% (24,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 491,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> Labor force size: 19,068,225 people
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19. Oklahoma
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +5.6% (3,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 57,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.6%
> Labor force size: 1,853,819 people
18. Massachusetts
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +6.5% (5,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 82,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.7%
> Labor force size: 3,772,543 people
17. Alaska
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +6.7% (1,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 16,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> Labor force size: 361,562 people
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16. Rhode Island
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +8.3% (1,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 13,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.9%
> Labor force size: 568,599 people
15. Nevada
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +8.5% (4,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 51,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 5.1%
> Labor force size: 1,498,303 people
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14. Illinois
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +9.9% (15,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 167,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> Labor force size: 6,403,328 people
13. Arkansas
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +10.0% (4,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 44,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> Labor force size: 1,339,399 people
12. Wyoming
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +10.0% (1,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 11,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> Labor force size: 290,282 people
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11. New York
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +10.2% (18,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 194,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.9%
> Labor force size: 9,369,054 people
10. New Hampshire
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +11.1% (2,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 20,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> Labor force size: 756,659 people
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9. Montana
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +11.1% (2,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 20,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.6%
> Labor force size: 556,361 people
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8. Kansas
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +11.4% (4,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 39,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> Labor force size: 1,496,305 people
7. Minnesota
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +11.9% (8,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 75,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> Labor force size: 3,059,493 people
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6. Vermont
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +12.5% (1,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 9,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> Labor force size: 330,023 people
5. Florida
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +15.2% (40,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 304,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> Labor force size: 10,470,721 people
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4. Missouri
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +16.4% (12,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 85,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> Labor force size: 3,080,111 people
3. Ohio
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +16.4% (25,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 177,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> Labor force size: 5,749,599 people
2. North Carolina
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +18.5% (24,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 154,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> Labor force size: 5,015,299 people
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1. Wisconsin
> Change in quits, Jan.-Feb. 2022: +19.4% (14,000 more quits)
> Total quits in Feb. 2022: 86,000
> Feb. 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> Labor force size: 3,139,677 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 percent change in number of people who quit in February 2022 compared to the previous month. Quits are defined as voluntary departures from an employer and do not include those entering retirement. In the case of a tie, the state with a smaller labor force in February ranked higher.
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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