In what has been dubbed the Great Resignation, Americans have been quitting their jobs in record numbers in recent months – a trend that shows no signs of slowing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 4.5 million Americans quit their job in March 2022, the most ever recorded in a single month, and up from 4.4 million quits in February.
Explanations for the high quit rates vary. According to a survey by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, some of the main reasons workers are quitting include unmanageable workloads, unsupportive colleagues, and lack of professional development. Often, however, the reasons are as simple as the desire for higher pay or more benefits – and many employers, large and small, are now raising wages in an effort to keep workers on staff. This is the industry people are quitting the fastest.
Whatever the explanation, the consequences are clear. Record-high quits are exacerbating a labor shortage in the United States and creating an existential crisis for many small businesses. And in some states, quit rates are far higher than the national average.
Using data from the BLS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the most people are quitting their job. States are ranked by the number of people who quit in March 2022 as a share of total employment.
Depending on the state, the share of workers who quit their jobs in March, the most recent month of available data, ranges from 2.0% to 5.1%. For context, 3.0% of workers nationwide quit their jobs in March.
Though there are exceptions, states with higher quit rates tend to have March unemployment rates below the national average of 3.6%. Since quits do not include workers who retire, each of the 4.5 million Americans who quit in March presumably plans to take another job. A stronger job market, therefore, may incentivize workers to look for better opportunities, while workers in states with weaker job markers may be deterred. Here is a look at the industry laying off the most Americans.
Click here to see the states where the most people are quitting their jobs
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. New York
> Quits in March 2022: 2.0% of workforce (185,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +34.1% (47,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 9,376,546 people
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49. Connecticut
> Quits in March 2022: 2.2% of workforce (36,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +12.5% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,879,419 people
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48. Massachusetts
> Quits in March 2022: 2.2% of workforce (79,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +5.3% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,775,288 people
47. Pennsylvania
> Quits in March 2022: 2.3% of workforce (136,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +8.8% (11,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 6,387,365 people
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46. Maine
> Quits in March 2022: 2.5% of workforce (16,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +14.3% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 679,433 people
45. Missouri
> Quits in March 2022: 2.5% of workforce (74,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +2.8% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,087,759 people
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44. North Dakota
> Quits in March 2022: 2.6% of workforce (11,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -8.3% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 409,949 people
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43. Rhode Island
> Quits in March 2022: 2.6% of workforce (13,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +18.2% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 568,879 people
42. New Hampshire
> Quits in March 2022: 2.6% of workforce (18,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +20.0% (3,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 758,616 people
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41. Kansas
> Quits in March 2022: 2.6% of workforce (36,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +24.1% (7,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,499,603 people
40. Iowa
> Quits in March 2022: 2.6% of workforce (40,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +11.1% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,692,502 people
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39. Maryland
> Quits in March 2022: 2.6% of workforce (70,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +34.6% (18,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,198,116 people
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38. Minnesota
> Quits in March 2022: 2.6% of workforce (74,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +32.1% (18,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,071,594 people
37. New Jersey
> Quits in March 2022: 2.6% of workforce (107,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +42.7% (32,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,618,709 people
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36. Wisconsin
> Quits in March 2022: 2.7% of workforce (79,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +21.5% (14,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,144,673 people
35. Virginia
> Quits in March 2022: 2.7% of workforce (108,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +17.4% (16,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,311,629 people
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34. Michigan
> Quits in March 2022: 2.7% of workforce (117,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +0.0% (0,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,819,131 people
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33. Ohio
> Quits in March 2022: 2.7% of workforce (150,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +19.0% (24,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 5,763,448 people
32. Illinois
> Quits in March 2022: 2.8% of workforce (167,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +13.6% (20,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 6,430,758 people
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31. California
> Quits in March 2022: 2.8% of workforce (486,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +46.8% (155,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 19,131,273 people
30. South Dakota
> Quits in March 2022: 2.9% of workforce (13,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +18.2% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 472,658 people
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29. Nebraska
> Quits in March 2022: 2.9% of workforce (30,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +3.4% (1,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,058,891 people
28. Vermont
> Quits in March 2022: 3.0% of workforce (9,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +28.6% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 331,412 people
27. Oregon
> Quits in March 2022: 3.0% of workforce (59,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +3.5% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,184,140 people
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26. Washington
> Quits in March 2022: 3.0% of workforce (104,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +57.6% (38,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,003,490 people
25. Tennessee
> Quits in March 2022: 3.1% of workforce (100,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +5.3% (5,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,370,618 people
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24. Texas
> Quits in March 2022: 3.1% of workforce (411,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +10.5% (39,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 14,414,591 people
23. Hawaii
> Quits in March 2022: 3.2% of workforce (19,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +46.2% (6,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 672,576 people
22. New Mexico
> Quits in March 2022: 3.2% of workforce (27,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +28.6% (6,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 948,386 people
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21. Arkansas
> Quits in March 2022: 3.2% of workforce (42,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +16.7% (6,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,343,907 people
20. Delaware
> Quits in March 2022: 3.3% of workforce (15,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +15.4% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 498,638 people
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19. Oklahoma
> Quits in March 2022: 3.3% of workforce (55,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +27.9% (12,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,862,120 people
18. Kentucky
> Quits in March 2022: 3.3% of workforce (63,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -1.6% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 2,060,065 people
17. Indiana
> Quits in March 2022: 3.3% of workforce (104,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +30.0% (24,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,332,239 people
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16. West Virginia
> Quits in March 2022: 3.4% of workforce (24,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +20.0% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 794,175 people
15. Mississippi
> Quits in March 2022: 3.5% of workforce (41,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +7.9% (3,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,259,602 people
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14. Nevada
> Quits in March 2022: 3.5% of workforce (50,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +19.0% (8,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,503,263 people
13. Louisiana
> Quits in March 2022: 3.5% of workforce (66,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +26.9% (14,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,089,731 people
12. Alabama
> Quits in March 2022: 3.5% of workforce (73,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +32.7% (18,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,270,463 people
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11. Colorado
> Quits in March 2022: 3.5% of workforce (100,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +40.8% (29,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,211,692 people
10. North Carolina
> Quits in March 2022: 3.6% of workforce (168,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +35.5% (44,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 5,030,542 people
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9. Idaho
> Quits in March 2022: 3.7% of workforce (30,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +36.4% (8,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 932,278 people
8. Georgia
> Quits in March 2022: 3.7% of workforce (177,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +35.1% (46,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 5,251,130 people
7. Montana
> Quits in March 2022: 3.8% of workforce (19,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +26.7% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 558,466 people
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6. Utah
> Quits in March 2022: 3.8% of workforce (62,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 2.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +44.2% (19,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,705,513 people
5. South Carolina
> Quits in March 2022: 4.1% of workforce (90,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +36.4% (24,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,384,364 people
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4. Wyoming
> Quits in March 2022: 4.2% of workforce (12,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +33.3% (3,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 290,365 people
3. Florida
> Quits in March 2022: 4.4% of workforce (404,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +70.5% (167,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 10,513,164 people
2. Arizona
> Quits in March 2022: 4.5% of workforce (137,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +48.9% (45,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,548,773 people
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1. Alaska
> Quits in March 2022: 5.1% of workforce (16,000 total quits)
> March 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +45.5% (5,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 361,758 people
Methodology
To determine the states where the most people are quitting their jobs, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. States are ranked by the quit rate – the number of people who quit in March 2022 as a share of total employment. For states with the same quit rate, ties were broken by the actual number of quits.
Figures on unemployment and labor force size, which includes U.S. residents who are either working or actively looking for work, are also from the BLS.
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