Special Report
States Where the Most People Are Quitting Their Jobs
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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, over 4.4 million Americans quit their job in April 2022, just shy of the all time high of 4.5 million reported in November 2021.
A recent survey published by the Pew Research Center found that low pay and limited room for advancement were the most common reasons Americans have been leaving their jobs. (Here are the states recovering the fastest from high unemployment.)
But 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 April 2022 as a share of total employment.
Depending on the state, the share of workers who quit their jobs in April, the most recent month of available data, ranges from 1.9% to 4.7%. For context, 2.9% of workers nationwide quit their jobs in April.
Though there are exceptions, states with higher quit rates tend to have lower unemployment rates – below the national average of 3.6%. Since quits do not include workers who retire, each of the 4.4 million Americans who quit in April presumably plans to take another job. A stronger job market, therefore, may incentivize workers to look for better opportunities, while a weaker job market may deter quits. (Here is a look at the states where unemployment is at an all time low.)
Click here to see the states where the most people are quitting their jobs
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Pennsylvania
> Quits in April 2022: 1.9% of workforce (111,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -15.9% (21,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 6,409,766 people
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49. New York
> Quits in April 2022: 2.0% of workforce (191,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +29.9% (44,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 9,404,038 people
48. Massachusetts
> Quits in April 2022: 2.2% of workforce (81,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +14.1% (10,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,775,535 people
47. Vermont
> Quits in April 2022: 2.3% of workforce (7,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +16.7% (1,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 332,746 people
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46. Connecticut
> Quits in April 2022: 2.4% of workforce (39,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +30.0% (9,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,887,900 people
45. Hawaii
> Quits in April 2022: 2.5% of workforce (15,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +7.1% (1,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 673,630 people
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44. Minnesota
> Quits in April 2022: 2.5% of workforce (72,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +18.0% (11,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,080,002 people
43. Ohio
> Quits in April 2022: 2.5% of workforce (139,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -4.8% (7,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 5,773,484 people
42. New Jersey
> Quits in April 2022: 2.6% of workforce (108,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +27.1% (23,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,634,049 people
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41. South Dakota
> Quits in April 2022: 2.7% of workforce (12,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -7.7% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 473,832 people
40. Maine
> Quits in April 2022: 2.7% of workforce (17,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +21.4% (3,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 678,788 people
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39. Maryland
> Quits in April 2022: 2.7% of workforce (74,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +27.6% (16,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,196,817 people
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38. Wisconsin
> Quits in April 2022: 2.7% of workforce (80,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +11.1% (8,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,147,274 people
37. Washington
> Quits in April 2022: 2.7% of workforce (95,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +25.0% (19,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,023,291 people
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36. California
> Quits in April 2022: 2.7% of workforce (465,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +17.4% (69,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 19,229,150 people
35. Rhode Island
> Quits in April 2022: 2.8% of workforce (14,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +16.7% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 569,045 people
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34. Nevada
> Quits in April 2022: 2.8% of workforce (40,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +5.3% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,508,783 people
33. Virginia
> Quits in April 2022: 2.8% of workforce (114,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -3.4% (4,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 4,330,002 people
32. New Hampshire
> Quits in April 2022: 2.9% of workforce (20,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +11.1% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 759,932 people
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31. Kansas
> Quits in April 2022: 2.9% of workforce (41,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +13.9% (5,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,501,739 people
30. Utah
> Quits in April 2022: 2.9% of workforce (49,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 1.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -3.9% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 1,714,407 people
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29. Oregon
> Quits in April 2022: 2.9% of workforce (56,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +5.7% (3,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,193,742 people
28. Illinois
> Quits in April 2022: 2.9% of workforce (172,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +5.5% (9,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 6,449,597 people
27. Michigan
> Quits in April 2022: 3.0% of workforce (128,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +0.8% (1,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,833,339 people
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26. Texas
> Quits in April 2022: 3.0% of workforce (403,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +10.7% (39,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 14,459,425 people
25. New Mexico
> Quits in April 2022: 3.1% of workforce (26,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +8.3% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 949,673 people
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24. Iowa
> Quits in April 2022: 3.1% of workforce (49,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +19.5% (8,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,697,705 people
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23. North Carolina
> Quits in April 2022: 3.1% of workforce (148,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -4.5% (7,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 5,056,492 people
22. North Dakota
> Quits in April 2022: 3.3% of workforce (14,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +16.7% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 410,859 people
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21. Delaware
> Quits in April 2022: 3.3% of workforce (15,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +7.1% (1,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 498,950 people
20. West Virginia
> Quits in April 2022: 3.3% of workforce (23,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -8.0% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 794,631 people
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19. Nebraska
> Quits in April 2022: 3.3% of workforce (34,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 1.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +36.0% (9,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,060,739 people
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18. Louisiana
> Quits in April 2022: 3.3% of workforce (63,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +14.5% (8,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,100,393 people
17. Arizona
> Quits in April 2022: 3.3% of workforce (99,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -10.0% (11,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 3,556,902 people
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16. Arkansas
> Quits in April 2022: 3.4% of workforce (44,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -4.3% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 1,349,553 people
15. Colorado
> Quits in April 2022: 3.4% of workforce (97,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +32.9% (24,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,225,366 people
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14. Wyoming
> Quits in April 2022: 3.5% of workforce (10,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: None
> Labor force size: 290,691 people
13. Montana
> Quits in April 2022: 3.5% of workforce (18,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -5.3% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 560,660 people
12. Mississippi
> Quits in April 2022: 3.5% of workforce (41,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -18.0% (9,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 1,264,202 people
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11. Oklahoma
> Quits in April 2022: 3.5% of workforce (59,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: None
> Labor force size: 1,868,236 people
10. Alabama
> Quits in April 2022: 3.5% of workforce (72,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +9.1% (6,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,276,371 people
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9. Missouri
> Quits in April 2022: 3.5% of workforce (102,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +21.4% (18,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,091,654 people
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8. Tennessee
> Quits in April 2022: 3.5% of workforce (113,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +3.7% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,388,428 people
7. Idaho
> Quits in April 2022: 3.6% of workforce (29,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: None
> Labor force size: 937,017 people
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6. Indiana
> Quits in April 2022: 3.6% of workforce (114,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +16.3% (16,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,347,991 people
5. Florida
> Quits in April 2022: 3.6% of workforce (333,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +34.3% (85,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 10,542,655 people
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4. South Carolina
> Quits in April 2022: 3.9% of workforce (86,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +4.9% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,391,819 people
3. Georgia
> Quits in April 2022: 3.9% of workforce (185,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +2.2% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 5,267,587 people
2. Kentucky
> Quits in April 2022: 4.0% of workforce (78,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 3.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +5.4% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,062,849 people
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1. Alaska
> Quits in April 2022: 4.7% of workforce (15,000 total quits)
> April 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +25.0% (3,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 361,817 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 April 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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