Special Report
States Where Fewer People Are Quitting Their Jobs
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For months, Americans have been quitting their jobs in record numbers. Quits hit an all-time high of 4.5 million in November 2021 and have hovered near that mark every month since. While monthly quits remain at historic highs, in much of the country, what some have called the Great Resignation, may be showing signs of slowing.
According to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.27 million Americans quit their job in March 2022, a 1.3% decline from the previous month. In some states, the month-over-month decline was far more pronounced.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where quits are declining the fastest. The 30 states with declining quits are ranked by the percentage change in the number of total quits between April 2022 and May 2022, the most recent months of available data.
Among the 30 states, month-over-month declines in quits range from 1% to over 20%. It is important to note that in many of these states, quit rates – the number of quits as a share of the total labor force – remains historically high. In most states on this list, the number of people who quit their job in May is higher than the number who quit in May 2021.
Explanations for high quit rates vary, but according to a recent survey published by the Pew Research Center, low pay and limited room for advancement were among the most commonly cited reasons. (Here is a look at 25 jobs with the fastest rising wages.)
The precise reasons for falling quit rates in the states on this list are less clear, though many Americans may feel financial pressure from historically high inflation and soaring cost of living. (Here is a look at nine items not to buy to fight inflation.)
Click here to see the states where fewer people are quitting their jobs.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
30. Arizona
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -1.0% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 99,000 (3.2% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.2% (115,188 people)
> Labor force size: 3,569,593 people
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29. South Carolina
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -1.2% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 81,000 (3.7% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.3% (79,162 people)
> Labor force size: 2,401,251 people
28. Maryland
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -1.4% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 71,000 (2.6% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.0% (127,512 people)
> Labor force size: 3,203,076 people
27. New York
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -1.6% (3,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 180,000 (1.9% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.4% (414,806 people)
> Labor force size: 9,457,848 people
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26. Louisiana
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -1.6% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 60,000 (3.1% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.0% (83,483 people)
> Labor force size: 2,107,341 people
25. Ohio
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -2.2% (3,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 134,000 (2.4% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.9% (226,347 people)
> Labor force size: 5,792,221 people
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24. Missouri
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -3.1% (3,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 95,000 (3.3% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.1% (96,446 people)
> Labor force size: 3,088,085 people
23. Virginia
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -3.6% (4,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 108,000 (2.7% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.0% (128,841 people)
> Labor force size: 4,347,177 people
22. Michigan
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -4.0% (5,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 121,000 (2.8% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.3% (207,270 people)
> Labor force size: 4,849,351 people
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21. New Mexico
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -4.0% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 24,000 (2.8% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 5.1% (48,385 people)
> Labor force size: 951,866 people
20. Texas
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -4.3% (17,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 380,000 (2.8% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.2% (608,248 people)
> Labor force size: 14,516,071 people
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19. Colorado
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -5.3% (5,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 90,000 (3.2% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.5% (114,670 people)
> Labor force size: 3,240,739 people
18. Iowa
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -6.3% (3,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 45,000 (2.9% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.7% (46,771 people)
> Labor force size: 1,703,947 people
17. Tennessee
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -6.3% (7,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 104,000 (3.2% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.3% (112,018 people)
> Labor force size: 3,405,582 people
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16. Delaware
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -6.7% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 14,000 (3.1% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.5% (22,636 people)
> Labor force size: 500,114 people
15. North Dakota
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -7.1% (1,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 13,000 (3.1% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.6% (10,756 people)
> Labor force size: 410,871 people
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14. Kansas
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -7.9% (3,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 35,000 (2.5% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.3% (35,359 people)
> Labor force size: 1,505,575 people
13. Illinois
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -7.9% (13,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 151,000 (2.5% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.6% (297,757 people)
> Labor force size: 6,464,985 people
12. Wisconsin
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -11.4% (9,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 70,000 (2.4% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.9% (89,892 people)
> Labor force size: 3,149,219 people
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11. Maine
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -11.8% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 15,000 (2.4% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.2% (21,537 people)
> Labor force size: 679,101 people
10. Alabama
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -11.8% (8,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 60,000 (2.9% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.7% (61,621 people)
> Labor force size: 2,284,598 people
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9. Kentucky
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -11.8% (9,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 67,000 (3.5% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.8% (78,893 people)
> Labor force size: 2,064,679 people
8. Connecticut
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -12.2% (5,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 36,000 (2.2% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 4.2% (78,732 people)
> Labor force size: 1,895,140 people
7. Washington
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -12.5% (12,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 84,000 (2.4% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.9% (158,902 people)
> Labor force size: 4,036,317 people
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6. Indiana
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -14.5% (17,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 100,000 (3.1% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.2% (73,911 people)
> Labor force size: 3,364,365 people
5. Nebraska
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -15.2% (5,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 28,000 (2.7% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 1.9% (19,916 people)
> Labor force size: 1,062,678 people
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4. Massachusetts
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -15.3% (13,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 72,000 (2.0% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.9% (146,201 people)
> Labor force size: 3,775,738 people
24/7 Wall St.
3. Rhode Island
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -15.4% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 11,000 (2.2% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.9% (16,492 people)
> Labor force size: 570,102 people
2. Oklahoma
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -15.8% (9,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 48,000 (2.9% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 2.8% (52,013 people)
> Labor force size: 1,875,037 people
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1. New Jersey
> Change in quits, April-May 2022: -27.6% (29,000 fewer quits)
> Total quits in May 2022: 76,000 (1.8% of workforce)
> May 2022 unemployment: 3.9% (181,724 people)
> Labor force size: 4,648,563 people
Methodology
To determine the states where the number of quits is falling, 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 the number of people who quit in May 2022 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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